Maverick Software Consulting Wins 2011 Tekne Award

MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) honored Maverick Software Consulting with the 2011 Innovative Collaboration of the Year Tekne Award during a ceremony at the Minneapolis Convention Center Nov. 3. The Tekne Awards recognize Minnesota companies and individuals who have shown superior technology innovation and leadership.

Minneapolis-based Maverick Software Consulting was recognized for developing a first-of-its-kind academia-meets-corporate America partnership, bringing together top computer-science students from campuses across Minnesota with major corporations seeking local software development and software testing. In partnership with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), Advance IT Minnesota, Thomson Reuters and Digital River, Maverick provides corporate partners with top student talent as a successful, proven option for cost-effective software development and testing services and an experienced workforce after graduation. It also provides students real-world experience working in the field with cutting-edge technology – and typically a job offer prior to graduation.

"We're honored to be counted among the 'who's who' in the Minnesota technology community, and thank our academic and corporate partners, and the outstanding work of our student employees, for making the Maverick program so successful in creating technology jobs and hands-on learning opportunities for students across the Midwest," said Hebig. "Receiving the Tekne Award is a testament to how well the program is working for everyone involved, from corporations to universities and students to the entire community."

Maverick continues to seek corporate partners to join the award-winning program and benefit from cost-effective software development and testing work, as well as an experienced workforce after graduation. With the support of additional corporate partners, Maverick is positioned to expand to other college campuses with renowned computer science programs across the Midwest, including Winona State University and the University of Minnesota – Duluth. To learn more or to schedule a tour, contact Maverick founder and president Martin Hebig at [email protected].

Hebig founded the program in 2006, starting out with one corporate partner, Thomson Reuters, and one office with a staff of 10 student employees. Since then, the company has rapidly grown to an army of 110 across nine college campuses and three states – and more than 150 students have graduated from the program. 2011 has been a record-setting year of growth, with three new corporate partners joining the program and MnSCU participating as an official academic partner. In August and September, Maverick added 20 new jobs for student employees, and opened a new office in St. Paul, Minn. All six offices are located on or close to college campuses, including Minnesota State University, Mankato; the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities; the University of Wisconsin – Madison; Iowa State University in Ames; Metropolitan State University, the University of Saint Thomas, Bethel University and Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.; and the newly opened office on the campus of St. Cloud State University.

About Maverick Software Consulting

Minneapolis-based Maverick Software Consulting provides low-cost labor to large companies through its unique business model: employing Midwestern computer-science students to develop and test software. The company, which has offices close to or on nine university campuses – Minnesota State University, Mankato; the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities; Metropolitan State University, the University of St. Thomas, Bethel University and Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.; St. Cloud State University; the University of Wisconsin – Madison; and Iowa State University – has provided an innovative domestic alternative to overseas software-development outsourcing since 2006. For more information, visit www.MaverickSoftware.com.

About Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA)

The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) promotes the growth, sustainability and global competitiveness of Minnesota's technology-based economy through public policy advocacy, member collaboration and education, and community outreach. MHTA is the only membership organization that represents Minnesota's entire technology-based economy. MHTA members include organizations of every size − involved in virtually every aspect of technology creation, production, application and education in Minnesota. MHTA works in partnership with TechAmerica, which represents Minnesota's technology organizations nationally. Find out more online at www.mhta.org or follow MHTA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MHTA.

SOURCE Maverick Software Consulting