If you haven’t met 2 of our founding board members, Michael Metz and Denise Shekerjian, they are part of the heart of Generator. Let’s celebrate their superstar-ness and congratulate them on their hard work!
Tech Jam Award Winners Announced
BY CATHY RESMER / OCTOBER 26TH, 2015, 02:55 PM
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 DaysPublisher/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.
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.