Innovation Award winners from Logic Supply by Matthew Thorsen

Innovation Award winners from Logic Supply by Matthew Thorsen

On Friday, October 23, the Vermont Technology Alliance recognized the winners of the 2015 Tech Jam Awards, sponsored by Merchants Bank. Patricia Moulton, Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, presented the awards at the exhibitor mixer at the end of the first day of the 9th Vermont Tech Jam.

There are two awards: The Innovation Award is presented to the individual or business with the most innovative new product, application of technology, or way of doing business. The Ambassador Award is presented to an individual or business whose leadership and actions positively represent Vermont as a home for technology business, and whose efforts help put Vermont “on the map” as a place for technology businesses to start, succeed and grow.

A distinguished panel of judges evaluated the entries: Patricia Moulton, Secretary of Commerce & Community Development; Dr. John Cohn, IBM Fellow; Justin Cutroni, Google Analytics Evangelist; and Seven Days Publisher/Co-Editor Paula Routly. The group reviewed the entries and determined the top three finalists in each category.

Logic Supply, of South Burlington, won the Innovation Award. Michael Metz, of Burlington’s Generator, was the recipient of this year’s ambassador award. Accepting on his behalf was his wife, Denise Shekerjian.

About the winners:

Logic Supply is a fast-growing, 75-person industrial computer company that designs and manufactures rugged computers for the most challenging industrial environments. Its new ML100 series of industrial computers represents a unique combination of features and performance. The ML100 is specifically engineered to resist extreme temperatures, airborne dust and debris, shock and vibration — conditions traditional computers can’t handle. The ML100 has no fans, vents or moving parts, and measures fewer than 6 inches wide and 2.5 inches high. It can be used and installed in places where most computers would not work or fit. The ML100 is targeted to and used in applications such as food manufacturing, mining installations, industrial automation, and data monitoring in the oil and gas industry.

Michael Metz was the impetus behind the creation of Generator, Burlington’s not-for-profit, member-driven maker space. In just its second year, Generator is already playing a key role in the region’s “entrepreneurial ecosystem.” It helps both new and existing startups, many of them tech-based businesses, and has 180 members. Other Vermont communities creating their own maker spaces see Generator as a model. Metz played a vital role in gathering expertise and raising the money to get the venture off the ground. Generator Inc. and its contributions to business development and job creation in the region would not exist without his vision.