NJ Tech Council Celebrates Innovation, Collaboration and Strong Leadership

By Jim Pytell, Assistant Editor On Nov 30, 2018

Last night, the NJ Tech Council hosted its 22^nd Anniversary Awards Celebration at the Bridgewater Marriott. The evening saw nearly 500 attendees recognize and celebrate some state and regional technology and life sciences companies and their leaders for their business accomplishments in leadership, innovation and collaboration.

“For more than four years now, I’ve toured the state, gaining an even deeper understanding of how vibrant and important New Jersey’s technology community truly is,” said James Barrood, president and CEO, NJ Tech Council. “These great companies and unique individuals are changing the world for the better. As they do it, they’re generating immense economic benefits for our state and our entire region.”

In all, 14 awards were given out to both companies and individuals, all of whom Barrood described as, quite literally, “the region’s superheroes.”

David Sorin, partner of McCarter & English and chair of the Venture Capital & Emerging Growth Companies practice, took home the Legend of Technology award, celebrating his long track record of successful representation of growth companies and his role in making Newark-based McCarter & English one of the leading and most active law firms in transactions for venture-backed companies.

“New Jersey can, and should, take great pride in our rich and enviable history of entrepreneurial and technological leadership,” Sorin said. “It’s been defined in part by Edison and Einstein; the pharmaceutical, telecommunication and information technology industries; some of the best colleges and universities in the world; a highly educated and incredibly productive workforce; and national leadership in patent issuances per capita – all evidencing our innovative and inventive culture.”

The Legislative Champion award was given to Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, recognizing his dedication to innovation and science including his work in taking on a leadership role in the Assembly as chair of the new Science, Innovation & Technology Committee, which is tasked with developing policies to support growth of a high-tech innovation economy in New Jersey.

“By putting together a public policy that really makes sense and by partnering with the private sector, university sector and entrepreneurs all together, I am strongly optimistic about where we are going to see New Jersey as we move into 2019 and beyond,”  Zwicker said.

While the event highlighted many individual cases of brilliance in innovative technologies, the takeaway of the night was that New Jersey – as a whole – remains a hotbed for innovation, collaboration and strong leadership at all levels of the economic ecosystem – from wide eyed entrepreneurs to seasoned politicians. Below is a list of all 14 award winners.

2018 NJ Tech Council Award Winners:

• Rising Star: Barkly Pets
• Beacon of Light: CMS Technology
• Trailblazer: Modern Meadow
• Outstanding Technology Development: Apprentice.io
• Consumer Product: Mars
• Impact Company of the Year: TerraCycle
• Innovative Technology Company of the Year: Celularity
• Legend of Technology: David Sorin, partner of McCarter & English and chair of the Venture Capital & Emerging Growth Companies practice.
• Private Company of the Year: Marlabs
• Legislative Champion: Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker
• Public Company of the Year: Conduent
• Martinson-Ballen Tech Supporter: Katherine O’Neill, executive director, Jumpstart New Jersey Angels
• Master Technology Company of the Year: Nokia Bell Labs
• Collaboration of the Year: ResearchwithNJ

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

 

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