Windsor, Ontario – Saturday, October 26th 2019 – Close to a hundred attendees walked the red carpet today for the 3rd Annual YQG Tech Awards that recognized outstanding tech leaders in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent. The Tech Awards were organized by WEtech Alliance, sponsored by Deloitte Canada and hosted at Imagine Cinemas Lakeshore.
“The Tech Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the great work being done by our regional tech companies and individuals,” said Yvonne Pilon, WEtech Alliance President and CEO. “We’re incredibly proud of all that has been accomplished and are honored to celebrate the individuals and companies who are helping make the region a global hub for technology and innovation.”
The winners of this year’s Tech Awards included:
- Erica Rossi – #OMGrobot Student of the Year
- Jaeleen Koscielski – #OMGrobot Alumni of the Year
- Ikjot Saini – Woman in Tech of the Year
- Halight – Tech Company of the Year
- Frank Abbruzzese – Tech CEO of the Year
- Myra Tawfik – Tech Researcher of the Year
- Don Ward – Tech Professional of the Year
- Tailai Wang – Young Tech Professional / Student of the Year
- Ron McKenzie – Tech Teacher of the Year
- Elizabeth Moses – Tech Mentor of the Year
- The Job Shoppe – Technology Adoption
- HaggleFree – Tech Startup of the Year
- Andrew Tompsett – WEtech Choice Award (Individual)
- WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation – WEtech Choice Award (Organization/Company)
The winners were selected through a two-part process that included unique public voting via Facebook (1/3rd) as well as deliberation from our distinguished panel of judges (2/3rd). Over 5,000 votes were cast by the public over one week in September. Winners also received a unique award created by local artist, David Derkatz (DERKZ).
“There were incredible finalists in every category, with the quality and diversity of their achievements extremely impressing,“ says Remi Tosti, Deloitte Partner and sponsor and judge of the 2019 Tech Awards. “The 2019 winners demonstrate that the Windsor-Essex technology community is alive and well. I congratulate all the winners and finalists on their contributions towards building a strong, vibrant future for Windsor-Essex tech.”
The Tech Awards were followed by the Nerd Olympics Closing Ceremonies powered by Code Ninja Windsor. The three month-long Nerd Olympics pitted sixteen tech companies and organizations against each other in a series of Olympic style challenges such as mini-golf, ultimate frisbee, bull riding, axe throwing, escape room and eSports. The winners of the Nerd Olympics – and the hosts of the Nerd Cup for 2019 – are Team Eleven Winds.
“Like many of the Nerd Olympics teams, we too are investing in the future of Windsor-Essex’s tech community by helping kids learn to code,“ says Omar El-Sheikh, Owner / Windsor Essex. Code Ninjas and sponsor of the Nerd Olympics Closing Ceremonies. “· As a St. Clair College tech grad, now turned tech entrepreneur, I am thrilled to be engaged in this great community. Today, and all-week, is an example of what we are all trying to build, a vibrant tech community.”
As part of this year’s Nerd Olympics Community Challenge, teams came together to raise $1450 in support of Windsor-Essex FIRST Robotics and have signed up 26 volunteers to participate in upcoming FIRST programming and events. The afternoon also featured a special tech movie screening of “Ghostbusters” in celebration of its 35th anniversary.
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