OEN NewsAnnouncing the Winners of the 21st Annual OEN Tom Holce Entrepreneurship Awards
October 15, 2014, Portland, Oregon – The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) is pleased to announce the winners of the 21st annual OEN Tom Holce Entrepreneurship Awards, presented Wednesday, October 15 at the Oregon Convention Center. The awards program is Oregon’s largest annual entrepreneurial gathering, celebrating the region’s best and brightest entrepreneurs. It has been chronicled on social media at #oenawards.
The winners in each category include:
LAUNCH STAGE CATEGORY WINNER—GlobeSherpa, Nat Parker, CEO
GlobeSherpa specializes in mobile application development for transit, parking, and events. The company was chosen because it has a great team and cohesive culture, has accomplished a large amount in a short time, is changing a legacy system, is capitalizing on a huge opportunity, has successfully navigated through tough times, and is led by a charismatic, tenacious, and results-oriented CEO who personifies the resilient character of successful, bootstrapped entrepreneurs.
The two other finalists for this category were:
- Inpria, Andrew Grenville, CEO
- Nouvola, Paola Moretto, Co-Founder & CEO
DEVELOPMENT STAGE CATEGORY WINNER—Salt & Straw, Kim Malek & Tyler Malek, Co-Founders
Salt & Straw—a small-batch, all-natural ice cream company—was chosen because it is relentlessly mission- and brand-focused, with a strong guiding philosophy and a commitment to the surrounding community; has experienced rapid and sustainable growth, with high potential for scalability; has high profit margins; and is uniquely focused on innovation and user experience, making it stand out from its competitors.
The two other finalists for this category were:
- Chirpify, Chris Teso, Founder & CEO
- barre3, Sadie Lincoln, Founder
GROWTH STAGE CATEGORY WINNER—Elemental Technologies, Sam Blackman, CEO & Co-Founder
Elemental Technologies is the leading supplier of software-defined video solutions for multiscreen content delivery. The company was chosen because it is transforming its industry, has laid out a vision and has seen it come through, has a veteran management team and highly capable employees, is demonstrating continued innovation as it grows, and is a strong Oregon-based company that engages with the surrounding community.
The two other finalists for this category were:
- Puppet Labs, Luke Kanies, CEO & Founder
- ZoomCare, Dave Sanders, Co-Founder & CEO
ENTREPRENEURIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER—Luke Kanies, CEO & Founder of Puppet Labs
Luke Kanies was chosen because he has built a company to last, with an impressive growth rate and team; has no fear of failure; wants to do great work and solve a pain point; has had meaningful impact on both the company’s customers and the industry as a whole; and has deep passion for what the company is doing, as well as overwhelming curiosity and a desire to keep innovating.
The two other finalists for this category were:
- Jason Bolt, Founder & CEO, Society43 & Revant Optics
- Jill Nelson, CEO, Ruby Receptionists
GAME CHANGER WINNER—Puralytics SolarBag
The winner for OEN’s inaugural Game Changer Award was determined by an audience vote at the Awards ceremony on October 15. The Puralytics SolarBag is a sunlight activated water purification system that could bring clean water to remote areas or disaster zones. The other finalists for this category were the TomegaVax platform, new vaccine technology that could cure and prevent HIV, and Inpria’s photoresistors, photopatternable metal oxide thin films that will keep costs down for computing devices.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS—Brenda Meltebeke, Ater Wynne and Scott Davidson, White Summers
The volunteer of the year category honors individuals who have graciously offered their time and service to OEN and the local business community.
“Both our winners and finalists honor Tom Holce’s legacy of strong values, and leading by example,” says Linda Weston, OEN’s President and Executive Director. “They showcase the next generation of entrepreneurs whose innovation and energy make such a difference in our region.”
For additional information, please visit: http://oen.wpengine.com/awards.
About Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
A nonprofit, membership-driven organization with a 23-year track record, OEN connects entrepreneurs to a network of peers and mentors, startup funding opportunities, and hands-on training. Our mission is to drive innovation, facilitate job creation, and put Oregon on the map as a center for entrepreneurial excellence. For more information about the OEN, visit oen.org.
Contact:
Jeff Fishburn
OnPR for Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
503-802-4408
jefff@onpr.com
Kerala Taylor
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
503-222-2270
keralat@oen.org
