Awards Gala

2022 Meet the Finalists (Invite Only)

Date: September 8, 2022

Time: 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm

Location: TBD

Sponsor: TBD

Meet the Finalists (Invite Only)

Date: September 22, 2021

Time: 5:00 pm until 5:30 pm

Location: TBD

Sponsor: TBD

Replay the 2020 Awards Video


About the Virtual Event

This is Richmond’s twenty-fifth anniversary “Academy Awards” of technology and although 2020 certainly isn't the year any of us expected, that's not going to stop us from celebrating! We're continuing to showcase + recognize individual accomplishments, corporate wins, non-profit success stories, innovation excellence, and growing small businesses! However, we'll just be swapping out a night at Maymont Gardens for a night at home.

RVATECH is teaming up with Richmond's own Altamira Film Co. to bring the 25th Anniversary Awards Gala to life by through an incredible 90-minute production and celebrating tech with tech - like never before. So, pick up your Gala Night Basket Bundle and head straight for your favorite streaming channel as we kick off what will truly be a night to remember!

Sponsors

Equity Impact Award

Chairman's Award

Innovation in Public Sector

Innovation in Private Sector Award

Large Capital

Innovation in Private Sector Award

Mid Capital

Emerging Small Business Award

Technology Builder Award

Technology Influencer of the Year Award

Next Gen Award

Photo Booth Sponsor

Legislator(s) of the Year Award

Outstanding Collaboration in Tech

Innovation in Private Sector Award

Small Capital

Community Impact Award

Pre-Dinner Reception Sponsor

After Party Sponsor

People's Choice Award

Innovation in Education Award

Meet the Finalists Sponsor

Technology Executive of the Year

Register For This Event

 

Register for Meet the Finalists   |   Register for 2020 rvatech/Gala

About the Event

For the 29th year - rvatech/ is celebrating the many breakthroughs, advancements, and outstanding technologists that are a part of the Richmond technology ecosystem.

 

Join the rvatech/ Community at the Altria Theater on September 28th for a night celebrating and honoring our local organizations and individuals that are actively helping to advance our region's technology-based economy!

Replay the 2022 Award Production Video

2023 Award Categories

Opportunity Impact Award

Sponsored by AIS Network

2023 Winner:

Dr. Kume Goranson

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to an individual or team whose leadership and creative use of existing or development of new technology has benefited the environment for equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion in the Richmond metropolitan area or the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Criteria:
• This individual/group has used technology in an innovative and creative way to enrich the environment for equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion either in the Richmond metro area or throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

• Nominee(s) must demonstrate how they have employed existing or new technology to provide a more affirming environment and sustain support for historically underrepresented groups.

• Nominee(s) must demonstrate intent to be a catalyst for change in the areas of equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion.

Community Impact Award

Sponsored by MAXX Potential

2023 Winner:

sayCare

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to an individual or team from an organization in central Virginia that displays the most innovative use(s) of technology to deliver services, advance their mission, or impact our community.

Criteria:
• This individual/group has used technology in an innovative and creative way to deliver services, advance their mission, transform their industry, or impact the community.

• Nominee must showcase a demonstrable impact on their community and the technology ecosystem in Richmond through their work

Educator of the Year

Sponsored by Google

2023 Winner:

Yvette Lee – J.R. Tucker High School

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to the educator that provides exceptional technology leadership and encourages students to pursue higher education or training in science, technology, engineering and math.

Criteria:
• Awarded for innovation in teaching styles, educational programs, or other means of impacting the educational process and student outcomes

• Must teach Science, Technology, Engineering or Math specifically within Richmond or surrounding counties

• Must showcase a high degree of innovation or uniqueness, offering a compelling offering that students typically don’t experience in a traditional curriculum

• Must showcase a demonstrable impact through the number of students reached, potential scalability of the concept, and/or impact on the community as a whole

NextGen Award

Sponsored by Capital One

2023 Winner:

Neel Gandhi

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a K-12 student who has demonstrated a meaningful impact on the technology ecosystem in Richmond.

Criteria:
• Must matriculate in grades K-12 specifically within Richmond or surrounding counties at the time of nomination

• Awarded for a demonstrable impact, product, or program that advances the technology ecosystem within Richmond

• Award winner will be selected based on excellence within an “above and beyond” initiative that took place outside of a class assignment

• Must showcase a high degree of innovation or uniqueness, offering a compelling offering that is not currently available in the greater Richmond marketplace

Technology Builder Award

Sponsored by ePlus and Pure Storage

2023 Winner:

CapTech’s VISTAR

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a local technology company delivering technology solutions and/or services to external clients that build capacity and increase operational efficiency.

Criteria:
• Intended for the vendor and consultant community that specialize in providing technology solutions for client companies

• Must showcase a strategic and innovative solution that changes business process or procedure

• Must provide tangible financial or business value and increase operational efficiency for a client

Emerging Small Business Award

Sponsored by Summit Human Capital

2023 Winner:

No Limbits

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a local small business or start-up technology company that has demonstrated the ability to achieve commercial success.

Criteria:
• Nominee should demonstrate a unique or innovative offering that provides real value to a current need or creates a new need in the marketplace

• Nominee should demonstrate recognizable success through market impact and/or revenue growth

• Nominee should have achieved success through the specific and innovative use of technology

Innovation in Public Sector

Sponsored by CarMax

2023 Winner:

UNOS’ The Travel App

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a public agency, or organization benefitting the public good, whose creative use of existing or development of new technology enhances processes, methodologies and/or services for their own or others' benefit.
Criteria:• Awarded for excellence and innovation on a project, process, or business transformation

• Must demonstrate how discovery, collaboration, iteration, prototyping, etc. contributed to the conception and development of the innovation

• Must demonstrate how the innovation satisfies an existing need or creates a new need that is not currently available in the market.

• Must showcase distinct, game changing advantages over any alternatives.

• The innovation must showcase compelling ways in which it was communicated, how users were engaged, and how it was delivered to the marketplace.

• The value proposition must be clearly achieved, fulfilled and validated in the marketplace.

• The project should have a long-term impact and be an inspiration for future innovation and innovators

Innovation in Private Sector, Large Capital

Sponsored by CGI

2023 Winner:

CoStar’s Homes.com

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a company whose creative use of existing or development of new technology enhances processes, methodologies and/or services for their own or others' benefit.



Criteria: • Awarded for excellence and innovation on a project, process, or business transformation

• Must demonstrate how discovery, collaboration, iteration, prototyping, etc. contributed to the conception and development of the innovation

• Must demonstrate how the innovation satisfies an existing need or creates a new need that is not currently available in the market.

• Must showcase distinct, game changing advantages over any alternatives.

• The innovation must showcase compelling ways in which it was communicated, how users were engaged, and how it was delivered to the marketplace.

• The value proposition must be clearly achieved, fulfilled and validated in the marketplace.

• The project should have a long-term impact and be an inspiration for future innovation and innovators

Innovation in Private Sector, Small Capital

Sponsored by Comcast

2023 Winner:

Naborforce, Inc.

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a company whose creative use of existing or development of new technology enhances processes, methodologies and/or services for their own or others' benefit.



Criteria: • Awarded for excellence and innovation on a project, process, or business transformation

• Must demonstrate how discovery, collaboration, iteration, prototyping, etc. contributed to the conception and development of the innovation

• Must demonstrate how the innovation satisfies an existing need or creates a new need that is not currently available in the market.

• Must showcase distinct, game changing advantages over any alternatives.

• The innovation must showcase compelling ways in which it was communicated, how users were engaged, and how it was delivered to the marketplace.

• The value proposition must be clearly achieved, fulfilled and validated in the marketplace.

• The project should have a long-term impact and be an inspiration for future innovation and innovators

Tech Executive of the Year

Sponsored by Vaco

2023 Winner:

Melanie Frank, Capital One

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to an individual whose leadership resulted to create competitive advantage, optimize business processes, enable growth or improve relationships with customers.

Criteria:
• An executive who has primary IT leadership responsibility for an entire company, business line, or geography.

• In the past year, has demonstrated leadership to successfully manage and champion technology initiatives.
Examples include: • Led technology efforts on a day-to-day basis, while receiving positive results from internal employee surveys.

• Improved the internal IT organization (e.g., restructured, new technology, use of automation, use of analytics, improved risk management, improved reporting)

• Led technology efforts related to a major company change (e.g., taken a company public/private, led merger/acquisition activities, introduced a new product into the marketplace)

• Significantly boosted a company’s IT presence in a geography

Innovation in Cyber Security

Sponsored by Assura

2023 Winner:

Dragnet

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a cyber security project that showcases breakthrough innovation and creativity in the practice and application of cyber security.

Outstanding Collaboration

Sponsored by Luck Companies

2023 Winner:

Shockoe & Altria

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to two or more companies (in a non-consultative arrangement) that have exemplified the collaborative spirit necessary to achieve breakthrough innovations in technology.


Innovation in Cloud Computing

Sponsored by Synergy Technical

2023 Winner:

Operation Smile’s Technology Solutions Built Using Microsoft Power Apps

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a cloud computing project that showcases breakthrough innovation and creativity in the practice and application of cloud computing.

Innovation in Data Science

Sponsored by CoStar

2023 Winner:

Dominion Energy’s Misgrids

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a project that showcases breakthrough innovation and creativity in the practice and application of data science.

Team Excellence Award

Sponsored by Networking Technologies + Support

2023 Winner:

VCU Health IT Team

Learn About the Award

Awarded to an entire team/division that exceeded expectations through innovation, collaboration, or pure technical excellence. Nominees could be the result of product development, process innovation, exceptional metrics/results, or excellence in team culture.

Legislator of the Year

Sponsored by Meta

2023 Winners:

Delegate Carrie Coyner

Senator Jeremy McPike

 

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a legislator(s) who have made a positive impact on the technology sector in the previous year.

Chair's Award

Sponsored by Altria

2023 Winner:

Deb Cassidy

 

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to an individual or organization that has made a significant impact on the growth of technology in this region, and/or the advancement of Greater Richmond as a center for technology innovation.

People's Choice Award

Sponsored by InterVision

2023 Winner:

Earlybird (Daybreak and Sandbox)

 

Learn About the Award

Awarded to the popular vote through social media leading up to the event.

2023 Sponsors

View the 2023 Sponsorship Opportunities

Title Sponsor

NextGen Award

Innovation in Data Science Award

Emerging Small Business Award

Cocktail Hour Sponsor

Pre-Reception Sponsor

Opportunity Impact Award

Chair's Award + Wine Sponsor

Innovation in Cyber Security

Innovation in Public Sector

Innovation in Private Sector - Large Capital

Innovation in Private Sector - Small Capital

Technology Builder Award

Photobooth Sponsor

Educator of the Year Award

People's Choice Award

Outstanding Collaboration Award

Community Impact Award

Legislator of the Year

Team Excellence Award

Innovation in Cloud Computing

Meet the Finalists Sponsor

Technology Executive of the Year

360 PhotoBooth Sponsor

Check out the 2022 Event Photos

View the Photo Gallery

About the Event

For the 27th year - rvatech/ is celebrating the many breakthroughs, advancements, and outstanding technologists that are a part of the Richmond technology ecosystem.

 

Join the rvatech/ Community at Maymont Gardens on September 28th for a night under the stars celebrating and honoring our local organizations and individuals that are actively helping to advance our region's technology-based economy!

Replay the 2022 Award Production Video

Replay the Award Production

Replay the 2022 Production

2022 Award Categories

Equity Impact

Sponsored by AIS Network

2022 Winner:
• AnswersNow

Learn About the Award

Awarded to an individual or team whose leadership and creative use of existing or development of new technology has benefited the environment for equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion in the Richmond metropolitan area or the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Criteria:
• This individual/group has used technology in an innovative and creative way to enrich the environment for equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion either in the Richmond metro area or throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

• Nominee(s) must demonstrate how they have employed existing or new technology to provide a more affirming environment and sustain support for historically underrepresented groups.

• Nominee(s) must demonstrate intent to be a catalyst for change in the areas of equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion.

Community Impact Award

Sponsored by MAXX Potential

2022 Winner:
• Goochland High School – Virtual Rurality

Learn About the Award

Awarded to an individual or team from a nonprofit or civic organization in central Virginia that displays the most innovative use(s) of technology to deliver services, advance their mission, or impact our community.

Criteria:
• This individual/group has used technology in an innovative and creative way to deliver services, advance their mission, transform their industry, or impact the community.

• Nominee must showcase a demonstrable impact on their community and the technology ecosystem in Richmond through their work

Educator of the Year

Sponsored by Google

2022 Winner:
• Zachary Jernigan

Learn About the Award

Awarded to the educator that provides exceptional technology leadership and encourages students to pursue higher education or training in science, technology, engineering and math.

Criteria:
• Awarded for innovation in teaching styles, educational programs, or other means of impacting the educational process and student outcomes

• Must teach Science, Technology, Engineering or Math specifically within Richmond or surrounding counties

• Must showcase a high degree of innovation or uniqueness, offering a compelling offering that students typically don’t experience in a traditional curriculum

• Must showcase a demonstrable impact through the number of students reached, potential scalability of the concept, and/or impact on the community as a whole

NextGen Award

Sponsored by General Electric

2022 Winner:
• Corynn Mason @ CodeRVA Regional High School

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a K-12 student who has demonstrated a meaningful impact on the technology ecosystem in Richmond.

Criteria:
• Must matriculate in grades K-12 specifically within Richmond or surrounding counties at the time of nomination

• Awarded for a demonstrable impact, product, or program that advances the technology ecosystem within Richmond

• Award winner will be selected based on excellence within an “above and beyond” initiative that took place outside of a class assignment

• Must showcase a high degree of innovation or uniqueness, offering a compelling offering that is not currently available in the greater Richmond marketplace

Technology Builder Award

Sponsored by ePlus and Pure Storage

2022 Winner:
• Qlarion, a GCOM Company

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a local technology company delivering technology solutions and/or services to external clients that build capacity and increase operational efficiency.

Criteria:
• Intended for the vendor and consultant community that specialize in providing technology solutions for client companies

• Must showcase a strategic and innovative solution that changes business process or procedure

• Must provide tangible financial or business value and increase operational efficiency for a client

Emerging Small Business Award

Sponsored by CoStar Group

2022 Winner:
• Babylon Micro-Farms

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a local small business or start-up technology company that has demonstrated the ability to achieve commercial success.

Criteria:
• Nominee should demonstrate a unique or innovative offering that provides real value to a current need or creates a new need in the marketplace

• Nominee should demonstrate recognizable success through market impact and/or revenue growth

• Nominee should have achieved success through the specific and innovative use of technology

Innovation in Public Sector

Sponsored by Carmax

2022 Winner:
• VA DRPT – Mobility for All – Virginia Transportation Navigator

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a public agency, or organization benefitting the public good, whose creative use of existing or development of new technology enhances processes, methodologies and/or services for their own or others' benefit.
Criteria:• Awarded for excellence and innovation on a project, process, or business transformation

• Must demonstrate how discovery, collaboration, iteration, prototyping, etc. contributed to the conception and development of the innovation

• Must demonstrate how the innovation satisfies an existing need or creates a new need that is not currently available in the market.

• Must showcase distinct, game changing advantages over any alternatives.

• The innovation must showcase compelling ways in which it was communicated, how users were engaged, and how it was delivered to the marketplace.

• The value proposition must be clearly achieved, fulfilled and validated in the marketplace.

• The project should have a long-term impact and be an inspiration for future innovation and innovators

Innovation in Private Sector

Sponsored by CGI

2022 Winner:
• Mission Lane – NPD Investment

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a company whose creative use of existing or development of new technology enhances processes, methodologies and/or services for their own or others' benefit.



Criteria: • Awarded for excellence and innovation on a project, process, or business transformation

• Must demonstrate how discovery, collaboration, iteration, prototyping, etc. contributed to the conception and development of the innovation

• Must demonstrate how the innovation satisfies an existing need or creates a new need that is not currently available in the market.

• Must showcase distinct, game changing advantages over any alternatives.

• The innovation must showcase compelling ways in which it was communicated, how users were engaged, and how it was delivered to the marketplace.

• The value proposition must be clearly achieved, fulfilled and validated in the marketplace.

• The project should have a long-term impact and be an inspiration for future innovation and innovators

Technology Executive of the Year

Sponsored by Vaco

2022 Winner:
• Christina Hollingsworth – Hamilton Beach

Learn About the Award

Awarded to an individual whose leadership resulted to create competitive advantage, optimize business processes, enable growth or improve relationships with customers.

Criteria:
• An executive who has primary IT leadership responsibility for an entire company, business line, or geography.

• In the past year, has demonstrated leadership to successfully manage and champion technology initiatives.
Examples include: • Led technology efforts on a day-to-day basis, while receiving positive results from internal employee surveys.

• Improved the internal IT organization (e.g., restructured, new technology, use of automation, use of analytics, improved risk management, improved reporting)

• Led technology efforts related to a major company change (e.g., taken a company public/private, led merger/acquisition activities, introduced a new product into the marketplace)

• Significantly boosted a company’s IT presence in a geography

Innovation in Cyber Security

Sponsored by Assura

2022 Winner:
• Hive Systems – Quantico

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a cyber security project that showcases breakthrough innovation and creativity in the practice and application of cyber security.

Outstanding Collaboration

Sponsored by Luck Companies

2022 Winner:
• Hamilton Beach Brands, Synergy Technical, VCU, and Microsoft

Learn About the Award

Awarded to two or more companies (in a non-consultative arrangement) that have exemplified the collaborative spirit necessary to achieve breakthrough innovations in technology.


Innovation in Cloud Computing

Sponsored by Synergy Technical

2022 Winner:
• Chesterfield Auto Parts – Yardsmart

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a cloud computing project that showcases breakthrough innovation and creativity in the practice and application of cloud computing.

Legislator of the Year

Sponsored by Meta

2022 Winners:
• Senator George Barker and Delegate Emily Brewer

Learn About the Award

Awarded to a legislator(s) who have made a positive impact on the technology sector in the previous year.

Chair's Award

Sponsored by Altria

2022 Winners:
• Phlow

Learn About the Award

Awarded to an individual or organization that has made a significant impact on the growth of technology in this region, and/or the advancement of Greater Richmond as a center for technology innovation.

People's Choice Award

Sponsored by InterVision

2022 Winner:
• Loren Morgan at Owens and Minor

Learn About the Award

Awarded to the popular vote through social media leading up to the event.

2022 Sponsors

Title Sponsor

Equity Impact Award

Chair's Award + Wine Sponsor

Innovation in Cyber Security

Innovation in Public Sector

Pre-Reception Sponsor

Innovation in Private Sector - Large Capital

Emerging Small Business Award

Technology Builder Award

NextGen Award

Photobooth Sponsor

Educator of the Year Award

People's Choice Award

Outstanding Collaboration Award

Community Impact Award

Legislator of the Year

After Party Sponsor

Studio Sponsor

Innovation in Cloud Computing

Meet the Finalists Sponsor

Technology Executive of the Year

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Watch the 2021 Video Production

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About the Event

For the 26th year - rvatech/ is celebrating the many breakthroughs, advancements, and outstanding technologists that are a part of the Richmond technology ecosystem.


Join the rvatech/ Community at Maymont Gardens for a night under the stars celebrating and honoring our local organizations and individuals that are actively helping to advance our region's technology-based economy! RVATECH is teaming up with Richmond's own Altamira Film Co. for another Hollywood-style awards production to bring the 26th Anniversary Awards Gala to life through an incredible 90-minute production and celebrating tech with tech.

FAQ's -

What's the Attire?

Attire is suggested as Vineyard Chic. Keep in mind, this event will be held outdoors on the lawn at Maymont, and jackets/sweaters may be desired once the sun sets. We highly suggest avoiding high heels.

Where do I park?

Parking: Please park in the Dogwood Dell lot, directly adjacent to the dog park, located at 1300 Blanton Ave., Richmond, VA 23221. From here, executive shuttles will escort guests directly to the event within Maymont. (Shuttles will run continuously throughout the event.)

What's the Schedule?

Registration and cocktail hour will be held from 5-6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.

 

Dinner and awards will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. immediately followed by the after-party from 8-9 p.m.

Rain Plan -

Due to inopportune weather, the Gala Awards has been rescheduled to October 14, 2021.

 

Covid Policies -

Cast your vote for the 2021 People's Choice

Voting closes October 1st

Vote Today for People's Choice

Sponsors

Equity Impact Award

Chairman's Award

Innovation in Public Sector

Innovation in Private Sector Award

Large Capital

Emerging Small Business Award

Innovation in Cyber Security Award

Technology Builder Award

Innovation in Data Science Award

Next Gen Award

Photobooth Sponsor

Legislator(s) of the Year

Outstanding Collaboration in Tech

Innovation in Private Sector Award

Small Capital

Community Impact Award

Pre-Dinner Reception Sponsor

After Party Sponsor

People's Choice Award

Innovation in Education Award

Meet the Finalists Sponsor

Technology Executive of the Year

Register For This Event

Thanks for Attending!

 

Watch the 2021 Video Production