The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC Names Finalists of Entrepreneur Navigator Awards

New Atlantic Ventures' John Backus to Receive Lifetime Navigator Award

HERNDON, Va., Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC, a resource for technology-focused startups and entrepreneurs, today announced the Entrepreneur Navigator Awards finalists, including the Navigator Award and Organization Navigator Award finalists, and the Lifetime Navigator Awards winner for 2012. Now in its third year, the program honors individuals and organizations that have mentored and advised entrepreneurs and startups in the Greater Washington region. The award recipients will be honored at a reception on Feb. 2 from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. at The Tower Club in Tysons Corner, Va.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20071106/DC06626LOGO)

The Navigator and Organization Navigator Awards are presented to an individual and company or organization, respectively, that have raised the bar for mentoring/advising or otherwise helped improve the quality of the entrepreneur community. This year's award winners will be announced at the Feb. 2 reception. Finalists in each category include:

Navigator Award Finalists

• Carl Grant, Cooley
• Wayne Jackson, Sonatype
• Jim Wolfe, J Street Consulting and George Mason University

Organization Navigator Award Finalists

• Affinity Lab
• CIT GAP Funds
• Mason Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

In addition, the Entrepreneur Center will also present the Lifetime Navigator Award to John Backus, founder and managing partner of New Atlantic Ventures, in recognition of his leadership in the local entrepreneur community.

John Backus is a seasoned technology investor and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience investing in and managing rapidly growing, high-technology companies. He has dedicated the past 14 years of his career in service to the entrepreneur community, as a venture capitalist with Draper Atlantic and New Atlantic Ventures, and has volunteered his time to work with NVTC, the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association, the Center for Innovative Technology, the Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission, and many other organizations. He served as chair of NVTC from 2000 to 2002.

"This year's finalists have made a positive impact on the region's entrepreneurs, ensuring they have mentors and advisors they can turn to for support and advice. Without the time and devotion of individuals and organizations like these, the road to entrepreneurial success in our region would be much more difficult to navigate," said Kristin D'Amore, director of The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC. "In addition, we are thrilled to honor John Backus for his experience and long-time dedication to helping others achieve their entrepreneurial goals."

To register for this event visit: http://nvtc.org/events/geteventinfo.php?event=ECNAVAWD-3.

About The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC

Created by the Northern Virginia Technology Council, The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC is a resource hub for technology-focused startups and entrepreneurs at every stage of their lifecycle. The Entrepreneur Center fosters entrepreneurship in students, mentors the first-time entrepreneur, advises and supports the experienced entrepreneur and facilitates strategic business relationships in the technology community. Visit http://www.nvtc.org/tec/index.php.

About The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC)

The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) is the membership and trade association for the technology community in Northern Virginia and is the largest technology council in the nation. NVTC has about 1,000 member companies representing more than 200,000 employees. Its membership includes companies from all sectors of the technology industry and the service providers that support these companies, as well as universities, foreign embassies, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies. NVTC is recognized as the nation's leader in providing its technology community with networking and educational events; specialized services and benefits; public policy advocacy; branding of its region as a major global technology center; initiatives in targeted business sectors and in the international, entrepreneurship, workforce and education arenas; the Equal Footing Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that serves local area youth; and The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC, which mentors new technology entrepreneurs. Visit NVTC at www.nvtc.org.

SOURCE Northern Virginia Technology Council