Did you miss the Nashville Technology Awards last Tuesday night?  Don’t worry, we have plenty of pictures to fill you in on everything you may have missed.  Take a look at the finalists and winners celebrating backstage in the slide show below.  In case you are wondering, yes, those are real Gibson Epiphone guitars, designed especially for the 2009 Nashville Technology Awards.

Finalists and winners weren’t the only one’s celebrating Tuesday night.  Over 375 participants walked the red carpet at this event.  See pictures from the red carpet cocktail reception below.

Special thanks to XO Communications, the Platinum Sponsor of the 2009 Nashville Technology Awards.

The Nashville Technology Council today announced the finalists for the 2009 “Feel the Beat” Technology Awards.  The awards recognize those individuals and companies whose success has helped grow Nashville and the surrounding areas into a hub for technology.  The event will highlight outstanding achievements from the 2008-2009 year.

The winners for the awards will be announced at the “Feel the Beat” Technology Awards Gala on October 27th from 5:30pm – 8:00pm at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

The 2009 Finalists are:

Technology Organization of the Year – Sponsored by XO Communications
• HCA    
• MoonToast    
• EDS an HP Company
• Lipscomb University  
• Community Health Systems  
• Permanent General
• Fisk University  
• PureSafety    
• Nissan
• Belmont University  
• Metro Nashville Airport  
• NovaCopy
• Credence Healthcare  
• Women in Technology of TN  
• edo Interactive
• EMMA   
• Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz

CIO of the Year – Sponsored by KPMG
• Noel Williams, HCA
• Gary Seay, CHS
• Sameer Bhargava, PureSafety
• Vanessa Hickman, Metro Nashville Airport

Start-up Company of the Year – Sponsored by Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
• MoonToast – Marcus Whitney
• Credence Healthcare – Justin Lanning

IT Student of the Year – Sponsored by EDS an HP Company
• David Sulpy, Lipscomb University
• Hank Carter, Belmont University
• J.A. Hayes – Ruffin, Fisk University

Volunteer of the Year – Sponsored by HCA
• Tracy Evers, Women in Technology of Tennessee
• Chris Beck, EDS
• Kent Fourman, Permanent General

The “Green” Award – Sponsored by HealthSpring
• Novacopy
• Nissan North America
• edo Interactive
• Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
• MyEMMA

Innovator of the Year – Sponsored by LBMC
• Sal Novin, Linnaeus
• Cliff Duffey, Cybera
• Nicholas Holland, centresource
• Larry Wilson, Zycron
• Adam Solesby, StudioNow
• Clint Smith, MyEMMA

Social Media / Blogger of the Year
• Dave Delaney, Griffin Technology
• Kate O’Neill, meta marketer
• Rex Hammock, Hammock, Inc.

Lifetime Achievement – ComFrame Software Corporation
• David Condra, Dalcon Communications
• Jim Lackey, Passport Health
• Nicholas Holland, centresource

Software Programmer / Engineer of the Year
• Chip Hayner, centre{source}
• Thomas Holland, O’Charley’s

The cost to attend is $75 per person or a table of eight is $525.  Click here for registration information (http://www.technologycouncil.com/2009/08/17/october-27th-feel-the-beat-technology-awards-gala/)

For the past 10 years, the Nashville Technology Council has continued to grow and build the technology landscape here in Middle Tennessee.   The member companies of the council have been an integral part of creating that growth and making Nashville a hub for technology.  As an appreciation, we would like to recognize some of our outstanding member companies and the individuals behind those companies that have supported technology and the council in our region.

The Nashville Technology Council will be hosting our first ever “Feel the Beat” Technology Awards on October 27th at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.  Nominations are now open and run through August 3, 2009.  Nominate your boss, company, a colleague or yourself for one of these prestigious awards.  The awards will include recognition for:

• CIO of the Year
• Volunteer of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement
• The “Green” Award
• IT Student of the Year
• Innovator of the Year
• Social Media / Blogger of the Year
• Software Programmer / Engineer of the Year
• Top New IT Company of the Year

The technology awards will be the final event of the Nashville Technology Council’s 10@10 events, celebrating the 10 year existence of the council.  We appreciate your continued support and hope that you will decide to become part of this event.

Get involved in the nomination process by clicking here

Categories

Volunteer of the Year:  This award is presented to an individual or organization that contributes to Tennessee’s technology industry through relentless community involvement, leadership, visibility and excellence in economic development activities.  Any individual or organization representing industry, government, or academia may be nominated.  This award is limited to individuals or organizations residing in Tennessee five years or more.

Lifetime Achievement: This award will be presented to honor an individual who has made significant fundamental contributions to technology, either through a single discovery or a body of work. These contributions, whether they have been in research, leadership, or mentorship, must have had a lasting impact on the technology field and must have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to progress in technology in Tennessee.

The “Green” Award: This award will be presented to a company or business unit in a technology industry that has demonstrated extraordinary performance related to sustainable environmental practices.  The company should have achieved significant business success, and technical innovation or scientific achievement in the past year and either the company’s product, business solution or the innovation itself should be environmentally supportive and sustainable.

IT Student of the Year: The IT Student of the Year Award will be presented to the student that shows academic excellence in the field of Information Technology.  We are looking for the next prominent technology leader that has the ability to make a difference in the future technology landscape of Tennessee.  Applicants will be judged on academic excellence and community and campus service.

Start-Up IT Company of the Year: This award will be presented to a new company that has shown exceptional growth and customer service excellence in technology in Tennessee.  The company will have used technology in a new and innovative way/thinking to obtain success and contributions to the Tennessee community will also be factored in.  The company must be registered and headquartered within the state of TN and be less than 18 months old on 11/09.

Innovator of the Year: This award will be presented to a candidate that is active and dedicated to the advancements of the technology community in Tennessee.  This person will have made an outstanding contribution to the technology industry by the creation or implementation of an innovative product, service or process that enhances customer experience, corporate/business profitability, efficiency standards, individual convenience or life experience.  He or she must also display a great competence in the aspects of the technology field.

CIO of the Year: This award will recognize the top CIO in Tennessee. CIO’s must have demonstrated leadership, driven innovation and delivered value to the business.  These high level candidates must be leaders in their own IT organization and have made a difference in the technology field in Tennessee.  Positive activity in the Tennessee community is also an important aspect of this award. Candidates should currently be CIO, CTO, or Sr. IT Officer in the company.

Social Media / Blogger of the Year: This award will recognize one of the next generation standout technology leaders. This award will identify the top Blogger in the region.  Bloggers must have demonstrated leadership, community building and created a following for a business or a social cause.  In short, have been leaders in their own organization and in the community. Candidates should currently be utilizing blogging tools such as Twitter or other well known social networking sites.

Software Programmer / Engineer of the Year: This award will be presented to the top Software Programmer/Engineer in the region. These Software Programmer/Engineers must have demonstrated leadership, driven innovation and delivered value to the business and been leaders in their own IT organization and in the community. Candidates can be employed at a company or self-employed.