A quarter of a century ago, the technological community of Roanoke and Blacksburg first celebrated.
The inaugural technite occurred at the Roanoke hotel and at the conference center, but as Russ Ellis remembers, it was a more relaxed matter than many others since.
“It was quite thin in comparison,” said Ellis, a first player in the region’s technological landscape.
Bonz Hart, one of the fully voluntary group leaders who organized it, elected projectors they had disputed from the hotel for a speaker and discounts.
“Everyone knew that it was the start of something,” said Ellis, president of Gnext Labs. “We just didn’t know what. But everyone liked to be together and celebrate a common goal and a common mission. And I think people looked at it and went, yes, we have to do it every year. ”
The celebration of Technite’s 25th anniversary takes place Thursday at the Beamer-Lawson in Virginia Tech. More than 500 people should attend, with 72 nominees for prices, including the best entrepreneur, the innovator, small and large technological companies, the regional leader and STEM multiple educators.
A more recent honor, the Hart of the Entrepreneur Impact Prizehas been dedicated to the memory of this star holder for a long time. Hart, who founded Roanoke Company Meridium, died in 2022 of pancreatic cancer. It was an engine of what has become the Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council, which organizes Technite.
Elaine Cayton, a member of the original council who organized the first Technitis, said that he would be soft to attend this stoppage of stage without Hart in the building.
“He was a remarkable guy,” said Cayton, a retirement consultant based in Virginia Beach since 2005.
The organization has been full of remarkable people since its creation, she added.
The RBTC, originally called the New Century Technology Council, formed in 1999 and was renamed in 2011, According to a calendar on the RBTC website. He spent a few years between the two like the Newva Corridor Technology Council.
The late Ray Pethtel, whose curriculum vitae included years leading the Center for Transportation Research to Virginia Tech, led the Council during its first year. Hart, Leon Harris, Ellis, Jay Foster, Ken Ferris, Ted Melnik and Mary Miller were among those who took the reins in his early years.
“There was really no technological ecosystem, but there was a strong desire to have one,” said Ellis at a recent video conference. “And the more we look around, the more we realized that there were a number of technological companies that grew up and tried to prosper here, and were really invisible, which was incredible.
“The city or the county, or whatever the entity, has not paid any attention to a bunch of technological nerds, even if our businesses grew very well. So we really decided to … come together and support each other. And it was a small but powerful group of people who put this charge, and I would put Bonz Hart at the center of this initiative. ”
Cayton remembered that the objective of the first year was to put his eyes on the neglected technological scene and perhaps open portfolios. Her consulting firm had offices in Roanoke and Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, where she helped small and medium -sized technological companies, including management, marketing, market studies and investments.
“The fact was that these companies, most of them were technology of technology, and they had no business experience,” said Cayton. “So what they really needed … was funding. And my memory with Technite was… we were trying to attract investors. ”
As the advice grew up, also tech. In a few years, he hosted 400 or more participants, twice his first -year participation. The speakers included senator Mark Warner, D-VA.; The US US Subsecretary of Commerce Phillip Bond; And Aneesh Chopra – Then Virginia Technology Secretary before becoming the first director of technology in the United States.
Meanwhile, the Council developed a mentoring program which he launched in 2002, with Novozymes (now called Novonesis) at the forefront of a pilot program. The RBTC, Ramp For Short’s regional accelerator and mentorship program, launched in 2016 and has since worked with 55 companies that have created more than 850 new jobs, selling products and services in the United States and abroad.
In 2013, Technite inaugurated the RBTC renowned temple. Its first two enthronements were Hart, whose software and services company helped industrial performance around the world, and Vinod Chachra, whose software conceptions first transformed the Virginia Tech library system, then libraries in 43 countries.
The Council in 2017 went under the aegis of a new organization, of the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance, or RBIA (then called penis).
(Disclosure: the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance is one of our donors, but donors have no say in news decisions; See our policy.)
Erin Burcham is CEO of RBIA, which includes RBTC, Ramp and The Common Wealth Angels Capital Group. Taylor Spellman directs the RBTC and his talent program, Changemakerz. John Hagy directs the ramp and the angels of common wealth.
Spellman is the main organizer of Technite.
“For 25 years, Technite has been more than an exhibition of awards – it has been an important step, a gathering point and a reflection of the path traveled,” said Spellman in an email exchange. “This is where we recognize people and ideas that lead the technological economy of the Roanoke-Blacksburg region. Startups have been launched, industries have evolved and innovation has accelerated thanks to the grain and determination of those of our ecosystem, past and present, which continue to push what is possible. ”
She added: “As we celebrate this 25 -year -old milestone, we are not just looking back – we are preparing the land for the next generation of manufacturers, thinkers and modifiers who will shape the next one.”