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Plano represented among Tech Titan finalists
Barry Nalls
By Jim Kilpatrick, Staff Writer
Several Plano businesses and individuals are among the finalists for the Tech Titans Awards, the Metroplex Technology Business Council announced on Thursday. The winners will be named during a gala awards dinner at on Aug. 18 at The Fairmont in Dallas.
Barry D. Nalls, president and CEO of Masergy was nominated for Emerging Company CEO. His company, Masergy, also was nominated for Emerging Company Horizon. Masergy was named the fastest-growing company in Collin County earlier this year in the Comerica Collin 60 rankings.
Debbie Mrazek, president and CEO of The Sales Company has been nominated for the Community Hero award.
Eight Plano ISD employees have been nominated for the Tech Titan of the Future.
The Tech Titans Awards finalists are as follows:
Corporate CEO award recognizes CEO leadership within the technology and communications industry in companies with more than 100 employees. Finalists are James Buchanan, CEO, Buchanan Associates; Stephen Mittelstet, president, Richland College; Michelle Peluso, president and CEO, Travelocity/executive vice president, Sabre Holdings; Scott Walker, president and CEO, Bill Matrix Corporation.
Emerging Company CEO Award recognizes CEO leadership for an emerging company within the technology and communications industry with fewer than 100 employees. Finalists are Nalls; Eknauth Persuad, president and CEO, Ayoka Systems; Michael Shores, president and CEO, Texas Prototypes, Inc.; and James Von Ehr, II, founder and CEO, Zyvex Corporation.
"On a personal level it is very humbling to be a finalist," Nalls said. It is great to be included in past winners of the award,"
Nalls' company also was nominated.
"It is great when you are working so hard and wow someone on the outside recognizes that," Nalls said. "It is very fulfilling that the industry recognizes us."
Corporate Horizon award recognizes outstanding innovation and unique accomplishments through recent or potential breakthrough technology or approach within the technology and communications industry in companies with more than 100 employees. Finalists are Entrust; Retractable Technologies, Inc.; Verizon Communications and Zix Corporation.
Emerging Company Horizon award recognizes outstanding innovation and unique accomplishments through potential breakthrough technology, processes or services within the technology and communications industry in companies with fewer than 100 employees. Finalists are istation; Masergy; Orametrix, Inc. and Worksoft, Inc.
Leadership award recognizes a company within the technology and communications industry for outstanding community leadership and support to business, civic, community and/or educational programs. Finalist is Cisco Systems.
Community Hero award recognizes an individual within the technology industry for outstanding achievements in community involvement. Finalists are Mrazek; Jamie Chambron, president and CEO, Prime Demographics; Donald A. Hicks, professor of political economic and public policy, University of Texas at Dallas; and Claudia Mirza, CEO, Akorbi Consulting.
"I was stunned when I learned about the nomination," Mrazek said.
Being nominated for the award was a true honor, she said.
"It the technology community this is a huge award," Mrazek said. "It shows that in a small company like The Sales Company we can make a big difference to the community."
Tech Advocate recognizes a technology service provider for outstanding leadership in the community by assisting, enabling or accelerating the performance of its technology clients. Finalists are Ayoka Systems elnstruction; M/C/C and vcfo.
Tech Adopter (new for 2006) recognizes a company whose core business is not technology products/services for outstanding adoption and application of innovative technologies to successfully change and impact its business results. Finalists are Daisy Brand; FAIRPAY Solutions, Inc.; JCPenney; and Methodist Health System.
Tech Titan of the Future - University Level - Recognizes educational programs designed to address the gap in the student pipeline in technology disciplines, and/or educational programs between technology businesses and educational institutions whose purpose is to provide qualified graduates to the technology industry. Finalists are Academic Bridge program, University of Texas at Dallas; center for information, technology and management, University of Texas at Dallas; Dallas TeleCollege, Dallas County Community Colleges; materials science and engineering, University of North Texas; Project Lead the Way, Arlington Independent School District; The Science Corner, Richland College; University Relations program, University of Texas at Arlington; and Women in Engineering Education programs, Dallas Society of Women Engineers.
Tech Titan of the Future, High School Pilot program, is part of a new pilot project this year, eligibility for the Tech Titans of the Future Award now includes high school math and science teachers in the Allen, Plano and Richardson Independent School Districts. All the finalists are from Plano ISD. They are Amber Branch, The Socratic Learning program, Williams High School; David Carroll, physics curriculum and teacher training, Plano West High School; Donna Costello, pre-calculus and calculus, Plano Senior High School; Jayne Fischer, math and science teacher, Jasper Higher School; Doris Kottiwiz, calculus teacher, Plano East Senior High School; Francie Mikulas, math department head and teacher, Vines High School; Teresa Reeves, biology and honors curriculum, Clark High School; and Karen Stephens, chemistry curriculum and teacher, Shepton High School.
"It is pretty exciting to be a finalist," Reeves said. "I'm honored and surprised."
She uses technology in her classroom every day.
"I just use technology naturally," she said. "It (the lessons) reaches the students when they can use the technology."
Carroll, from Plano West Senior High School, was taken by surprise when he was told he was a finalist.
"You never expect to be one of the finalists," he said. "It really surprised me."
Titan Fast 50 awards recognizes the 50 fastest growing technology companies in the DFW area, based on percentage revenue growth over five years (2001 to 2005) as well as percentage revenue growth over one year (2004-2005). These companies will be recognized at the gala.
Finalists in the Emerging Company Horizon and Corporate Horizon award categories will make brief presentations on their entries at the special luncheon. In addition to the presentations, company executives will showcase their offerings and answer questions.
The Tech Titans Awards were launched in 2001 by the Metroplex Technology Business Council, North Texas' most comprehensive organization supporting technology. The prestigious annual contest recognizes outstanding technology companies and individuals in the North Texas area who have made contributions during the past year locally, as well as to the technology industry overall. For more information, visit www.metroplextbc.org/techtitans.
Founded in 1994, the Metroplex Technology Business Council is a non-profit organization with approximately 350 member companies that include technology businesses and service providers from across the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Contact staff writer Jim Kilpatrick at 972-398-4265 or jim.kilpatrick@scntx.com.
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