2010 Oregon Technology Awards Winners Announced by TechAmerica

PORTLAND, Ore., May 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At the annual Oregon Technology Awards celebration last night, TechAmerica Oregon announced this year's winners. The winners represent the top Oregon-area companies in five categories: Rising Star, System/Hardware, Software, Technology-Service, and Cool Product.

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All net proceeds from the celebration go to math, science and technology education for Oregon students. In 2009, the Oregon Robotics and Tournament Outreach Program (ORTOP) were beneficiaries of the proceeds. Two ORTOP teams, the Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies and Short Circuits participated in last night's awards celebration.

From a pool of more than 70 nominations, an independent committee selected the winners based on the positive impact they were able to make in their industry and within the region. A rarity for the annual awards, TriQuint Semiconductor and Tripwire Inc. won honors for the second year in a row.

This year's winners are:

Rising Star Company of the Year

Avnera Corporation

System/Hardware Company of the Year

TriQuint Semiconductor

Software Company of the Year

Tripwire Inc.

Technology-Service Company of the Year

Smarsh

Jim B. Johnson, CEO of Tripwire Inc., was also honored as Technology Executive of the Year. He was selected based on his leadership in his company, the greater Oregon community and the technology industry. Johnson was chosen by a collection of the program's previous Technology Executive of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award recipients who make up the selection committee. Nominations were evaluated based on the submissions from both the committee and the technology community at large.

"The judges faced an extraordinary challenge this year in choosing from a pool of truly exceptional technology companies," said Jennifer Bosze, executive director, TechAmerica Oregon. "Our most sincere thanks to all who submitted an application, the hardworking judges and volunteers who make this celebration of achievement in Oregon's technology community possible."

In addition to the winners named above, three products were previously selected as finalists for this year's Cool Product of the Year. Event attendees voted on these products live using their mobile device, with results appearing tabulated on a screen in real-time. The winner can be found on the event website, www.oregontechawards.com.

The Oregon Technology Awards is produced by TechAmerica Oregon and is supported by financial and in-kind sponsors. The presenting sponsors are CresaPartners and UnitedHealthcare. Other sponsors include Woodruff Sawyer & Co., Oracle, Momentum Management Resources, Silicon Valley Bank, First Tech Credit Union, KPMG, USI Northwest, McClenahan Bruer Communications, Pop Art, and Spirit Media.

About TechAmerica

TechAmerica is the leading voice for the U.S. technology industry, which is the driving force behind productivity growth and jobs creation in the United States and the foundation of the global innovation economy.  Representing approximately 1,500 member companies of all sizes from the public and commercial sectors of the economy, it is the industry's largest advocacy organization and is dedicated to helping members' top and bottom lines. It is also the technology industry's only grassroots-to-global advocacy network, with offices in state capitals around the United States, Washington, D.C., Europe (Brussels) and Asia (Beijing).  TechAmerica was formed by the merger of AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association (GEIA).  Learn more at www.techamerica.org.

Contact:  Jeff Hardison, McClenahan Bruer Communications for TechAmerica Oregon, at 503.546.1000 or   Jennifer Bosze, Executive Director, TechAmerica Oregon, at 503.624.3608 or

SOURCE TechAmerica