CTC's 2009 Awards, Annual Meeting & Holiday Party

Connecticut Technology Council presents United Technologies Corporation with its 2009 Innovation Excellence Award and recognizes the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC) as its Public Policy Leader of the year and recognizes John Kreitler and Vincent Kiernan as Volunteer(s) of the Year

(pictured, l to r, Matthew Nemerson - CTC, John Kreitler - Shipman & Goodwin, Vinny Kiernan - Edward Angell Palmer and Dodge, David Parekh - UTC, Bob Santy - CERC)

View more great event pictures at CTC's Flickr photostream 

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (December 3, 2009)– The Connecticut Technology Council (CTC) has presented its annual 2009 Innovation Excellence Award to member company United Technologies Corporation. The award was made at the Council’s Annual Meeting held at surgical device manufacturer Covidien in North Haven.

 

The Council also announced a plan to increase its use of grass roots political action in 2010 to present the positive role that technology based job creation in the state’s economic recovery. “With a campaign for Governor underway and the legislature making large resources decisions to handle an on-going budget problem, it is critically important that our community be bold and persistent to keep Connecticut focused on our ability to function as a world class innovation oriented economy,” noted Connecticut Technology Council President and CEO Matthew Nemerson.

 

The Innovation Excellence Award is now in its sixth year and is given to the CTC member which has displayed technology leadership in its industry vertical, grabbed increasing market share, and been recognized for innovation by its peer or trade groups and industry analysts.

 

Previous year winners have been: ATMI, Inc of Danbury, Pitney Bowes of Stamford, FuelCell Energy of Danbury, Open Solutions Inc of Glastonbury and Sonalysts, Inc of Waterford.

 

United Technologies, the state’s largest private employer, was cited for its significant investment in the most advanced technologies, innovative thinking and disciplined research in support of its business units.

 

Chris Kalish, Chairman of the Connecticut Technology Board, and an executive at General Electric who directors GE Edgelab in Stamford, applauded UTC for its firm commitment to fostering a “culture of innovation” through its research centers in East Hartford Connecticut and Shanghi China.

 

Receiving the Council’s 2009 Public Policy Leader of the Year award was the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, (CERC). The award recognizes the individual or organization providing leadership in support of the technology based set of economic development polices the Council supports.

 

The Council cited CERC’s benchmarking reports issued in the last several years called “A Comparative Analysis of Innovation and Technology,” as well as a history of important policy efforts.

 

The benchmark reports provide an insightful look that assesses Connecticut’s capacity relative to other states in the areas of competitiveness and innovation. The reports are an assessment of the trends in Connecticut and sparked the kind of dialogue and debate the Council believes is needed need to move the state to a stronger economic position in a competitive world.

 

Also honored at the 2009 CTC Annual Meeting were two retiring Board members. Presented the 2009 Volunteer of the Year were John Kreitler, a partner at the Hartford law firm Shipman & Goodwin LLP, and Vincent Kiernan, a partner at the law firm of Edwards Angel Palmer & Dodge LLP.

 

Both were cited for their tireless efforts to support the Council over the last six years as volunteers and as consistent supporters of programs and efforts to expand Connecticut’s entrepreneurial economy.

 

About the Connecticut Technology Council, www.ct.org

The Connecticut Technology Council is the state’s industry association for the technology sector. CTC’s mission is to be “the catalyst for innovation and growth. CTC seeks to identify and connect the entire technology community, works to increase innovation that leads to entrepreneurship and job creation in all size firms and is a strong advocate for specific programs as well as a public understanding of the need for a world class innovation environment in Connecticut.  The Council produces many events that help, bring together and recognize achievement from start-ups to the state’s fastest growing companies.