Last past Thursday we celebrated 5 individuals and teams in the areas of technology and innovation. Here we present the award winners of the 2024 Tech Innovation Awards!
In the category of New Tech Business of the Year, Presented By the Ed and Kendra O’Neill Family Foundation, which is honors young companies (1-4 years) pioneering the technological frontier in Whatcom & Skagit Counties the award winner was: Corvus Energy.
Corvus Energy, the world’s leading supplier of battery energy storage systems in the ocean space is growing! As efforts intensify to decarbonize marine transport and shipping in green corridors, demand for batteries on board vessels and in port infrastructure is increasing rapidly. Corvus has opened a battery factory in Bellingham that provides local jobs in the clean energy economy and helps strengthen the Pacific Northwest’s maritime community with advanced zero-emission technology and expertise.
In the category of Tech for Social Good, which showcases individuals, community members, elected officials or organizations using technology to create positive social impact, creating equity for underserved or marginalized communities, the award winner was: Gina Stark, Port of Bellingham.
Gina Stark, Port of Bellingham Economic Development. W. Laurel Street, Bellingham, WA. © 2023 Mark Turner
When problems seem too big to manage, they call for systems change. That’s where superheros like Gina Stark activate. For so many years, we dismissed the concerns of ‘rural broadband’ because the problem was just too big. But it wasn’t too big for Gina Stark. She’s worked tirelessly in our community to provide a strong infrastructure to promote economic and educational development. She has brought broadband internet to underserved populations in Whatcom & Skagit Counties including to our Lummi and Nooksack tribes. She sits on several non-profit boards and is an advisor to many in our community on issues of economic advancement, closing gender and race wage gaps and creating opportunities for everyone. We are honored to present this award to such a dedicated public servant.
Gina was unable to attend due to previous engagements with the Port but says: “Thank you to TAGNW for this amazing honor. I am truly humbled and speechless. I wish I could be there in person to receive this amazing honor for an organization I hold in such high regard. Also for getting recognized for my work in broadband and community engagement. It has been my joy over the past 6 years to do this work.”
In the category of Technology & Innovation Star Student Presented by SPIE, which honors a post-secondary student whose creativity, leadership and critical thinking demonstrates potential for positive impact in the tech sector, the award winner was: Joanne Nuetzel, Whatcom Community College.
Joanne Nuetzel is a Lummi woman and student at Whatcom Community College, working toward her Associate of Technical Arts in Visual Communication. Joanne creates digital illustrations featuring indigenous people, original artwork for Copper Canoe Woman, an indigenous artist here in Bellingham, and animations. She was recommended for the Technology & Innovation Star Student Award presented by SPIE by one of her teachers, who said, “I have had the pleasure of knowing Joanne for over a year. During this time, I have known Joanne as a dedicated, intelligent, and hardworking individual who deserves the award. Joanne has been awarded the Lummi Higher Education scholarship, and I have been consistently impressed by her outstanding academic achievements and commitment to maintaining a high GPA. Along with her academic accomplishments, Joanne is a person of great character. She is kind, reliable, and highly respected by her community. I am confident that Joanne has the drive, determination, and passion to excel in her chosen field of study. This is her first step toward her career goals and making a meaningful contribution to society. I am confident she will make the most of this opportunity and continue to impress you with her achievements.”
In the category of Innovation of the Year Presented By the Ed and Kendra O’Neill Family Foundation, which highlights an innovation that brought the future closer to the present with its transformative impact developed in Whatcom or Skagit Counties, the winner was: PLACE.
PLACE is a services and technology platform that makes running a profitable real estate business easier. The PLACE platform provides top agents with every tool and service they need to run their businesses, including a best-in-class CRM and marketing automation system, in-house HR and legal, design, accounting, as well as recruiting, training, and productivity systems.
In the category for Technology & Innovation Educator which recognizes those who champion talent development and equip future tech leaders with essential skills, the winner was: AJ Barse, M.Ed.
AJ is a Instructional Designer and Technologist at Western Washington University and was nominated for this award by a colleague who says: “AJ is a creative, brilliant, and engaging thought leader supporting the use of technology by educators and artists both in Bellingham and across the country. His career as a technology educator has extended from Olympic College, Northwest Indian College, and Western Washington University. He hosts three different podcasts, including the Bellingham Podcast on Bellingham’s KMRE. In addition to giving frequent talks to faculty at WWU, AJ was an invited speaker to the national Adobe Max 2023 conference, where he drew a large audience for his topic: ‘Unlocking Generative AI in the Classroom Today’. We benefit from his excellent ability to take a deep dive into the latest innovations and then explain their impact on everyday life. He brings attention to Bellingham and the northwest through his award-winning photography, blogging commentary, speaking engagements, guest podcasting interviews, and experience in creative and sometimes arcane subjects. For nine years, AJ supervised dozens of student employees at Western’s Student Technology Center where he supported their growth through college and then onto careers at places like Adobe, Amazon, and Microsoft. At the same time, AJ worked with faculty to bring VR and 3D printing access to courses across the university.”
