Mind on Marketing

Last Thursday evening the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council recognized several businesses and individuals at the annual Awards Gala at Farmington Country Club. The Gala is a great party for the regional technology sector, a chance to dress up and schmooze in a beautiful setting, and honor innovation and service. I was going to post all the honorees, but the list is up on the CBIC web site.

What’s so notable about the Gala is how many innovative organizations there are here in Charlottesville. Finalists for the Rocket Award (for rapid growth) included a company that is developing and commercializing a line of devices and services to monitor corrosion in highway bridges and other infrastructures (Electra Watch, Inc.); a regional retail marketplace connecting grocery stores, farms and producers with consumers (Retail Relay); and a company that delivers innovative, environmentally sustainable water purification and waste water treatment technologies (Worrell Water Technologies).

There are many biotech companies in this region, many of them started by doctors at the University of Virginia located here in town. This year’s Breakthrough Award went to PluroGen Therapeutics for an antimicrobial gel that the company says reduces the suffering of patients with severe burns and chronic wounds. It can be removed with cool water, which is far less painful than other existing therapies. Every year I’m blown away by the medical innovations that are taking place here.

The Red Apple Award went to a visionary young Physics teacher at Charlottesville High School who uses his background in mechnical and aerospace engineering  to lead innovative class projects. For his “Super Space Adventure,” he had students design, contruct and launch a weather balloon. His very brief remarks when he recieved the award were inspiring, passionate and visionary, and I heard a couple of people comment that the nation is in good hands with teachers like Matt. I expect he will emerge as a community leader, at the very least.

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