Beedie alumni and faculty shortlisted for BCTIA awards

Elicia Maine, associate professor at the Beedie School of Business and academic director of the Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology Commercialization, has been shortlisted for a BCTIA Technology Impact Award.

Faculty and alumni from the Beedie School of Business are featured prominently in the shortlist for the BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) 2016 Technology Impact Awards (TIAs).

The longest running and largest technology awards program in BC, the TIAs honour companies in ten categories, recognizing excellence with Technology, People, and Company awards.

Elicia Maine, associate professor at the Beedie School of Business, is among the names shortlisted for the Person of the Year award. A renowned expert and mentor in the field of commercializing science and technology inventions, Maine is academic director of the Beedie Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology Commercialization,

The Certificate teaches scientists and engineers the frameworks, skills, and perspective to more strategically translate their inventions from the lab bench to products and services solving unmet market needs.

Digital gift card supplier Buyatab is listed in the Excellence in Product Innovation category. The organization was founded by Beedie alumnus Matias Marquez while he was studying for his BBA degree, and he has since helped grow it to a global organization with hundreds of clients including Chilli’s, Whole Foods Market, Four Seasons, and Tim Hortons.

Leading cloud consulting and software development company Traction on Demand is shortlisted for the Community Engagement award. The company was founded in 2006 by BBA alumnus Greg Malpass, and now employs more than 130 people. Its client list ranges from billion dollar corporations such as Telus and Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers to smaller clients such as dog walking service Release the Hounds.

Other companies with Beedie connections to be shortlisted for awards include Westminster Savings Credit Union, of which BBA alumnus Gavin Toy is President and CEO; media and technology company Left, where MBA alumnus Josh Viner is Business Development Officer; CEM software provider ResponseTek, where MOT MBA alumnus Gord Elder is Vice President, Products & Technology; location services platform provider Rx Networks at which BBA alumnus Adrian Stimpson is Senior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing; and electronics manufacturer Ronin8 Technologies, where EMBA alumnus Peter Holgate is founder & CEO.

The BCTIA aims to make BC the best place to grow a tech company. For more than 20 years, it has helped to grow BC’s tech cluster to over 9,000 companies employing nearly 90,000 people, and that now outpaces the resource industry in terms of economic contribution to the province.

For the full list of TIA nominees, visit it.einnews.com/pr_news/321551561/2016-technology-impact-award-finalists-announced