FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF ANNUAL TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY AWARDS 

Gala Event Features Keynote Speech by Dr. Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics; Special Presentation Honoring Anjay Bajaj with Volunteer Service Award

TORRANCE, CALIF. – May 1, 2009 – Last night, the Technology Council of Southern California hosted its 15^th annual Technology Industry Awards gala honoring individuals and companies that played a significant role in advancing Southern California as a center for technological innovation over the past year. Held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, the event was attended by more than 300 of the region’s technology industry leaders. 

From many applicants, 21 individuals and companies were honored as finalists for the seven award categories. Of these 21, seven were honored as 2009 award recipients at the event. This year’s award recipients are:

• CEO of the Year – Adam Miller, Cornerstone OnDemand
• Entrepreneur of the Year – Scott Painter, Zag and True Car
• Emerging Software Company of the Year – Corent Technology, Inc.
• Software Company of the Year – SYSPRO
• Internet & New Media Company of the Year – Hydra LLC
• Hardware & Storage Company of the Year – D-Link Systems, Inc.
• Entertainment & Gaming Company of the Year – Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

This year’s ceremony included a keynote speech from founding principal of Beacon Economics, Dr. Christopher Thornberg, titled “How Deep and How Long.” Thornberg provided an economic outlook for the nation and Southern California in 2009 and beyond.  

“While each year our awards program recognizes some of the best technology companies in Southern California, it’s especially gratifying to see how successful this year’s finalists have been in spite of the economic climate,” said Rick Sharga, president, Technology Council. “It’s encouraging to see that despite the downturn, Southern California is still a thriving technology hub where some of the nation’s most significant innovation is occurring across a wide variety of sectors. The Technology Council of Southern California is proud to honor these seven recipients.”

The Technology Council also honored Anjay Bajaj, director and co-founder of Altos Incorporated, IT Consulting Company, for the 12-years of voluntary support he’s provided the organization. His leadership has been integral in launching the Orange County Chapter and eBusiness Special Interest Group. Bajaj has also served on the Technology Council board of directors as President and Chairman, building relationships among the organization’s members while ensuring critical operational solutions were in place.

Presented by the Technology Council, the awards were sponsored by Dorsey & Whitney, Silicon Valley Bank, Tech Coast Equity Group, Ruder Finn and SoCalTech.com.

Complete List of Finalists 

A total of 21 companies were selected as finalists in the following 2009 categories:

• CEO of the Year— Adam Miller, Cornerstone OnDemand; Ken McBride, Stamps.com; Jeffrey Tinsley, MyLife
•  Entrepreneur of the Year – Peter Kim, Interpolls; Scott Painter, Zag and TrueCar, Inc.; Therese Tucker, BlackLine Systems  
• Emerging Software Company of the Year– Apriso Corporation; Corent Technology, Inc.; LiveOffice
• Software Company of the Year­ – Epicor Software Corporation; Guidance Software, Inc.; SYSPRO
• Internet/New Media Company of the Year – Hydra LLC; People Media, Inc.; WebVisible, Inc.
• Hardware & Storage Company of the Year – Mindspeed Technologies, Inc.; D-Link Systems, Inc.; Emulex Corporation
• Entertainment & Gaming Company of the Year – Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.; Future Ads; RotoHog

 About the Technology Council of Southern California

The Technology Council of Southern California is the premier forum for the region’s technology leaders, providing events, connections, information and resources to help technology companies succeed. From recognizing excellence in innovation through its annual awards event to providing access to funding through VentureNet, the Technology Council supports companies throughout their entire corporate lifecycles. Founded in 1991 as the Software Council of Southern California, the Technology Council has a 18 year history of supporting technology companies across the region. For more information visit www.tcosc.org.

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