NCET Biz Tips: Celebrating Northern Nevada’s Technology and Business Community

What do drinking fountains, estate distilleries, virtual orchestral performances, integrated framing solutions, aviation career readiness, cocktail napkin sketches, and artistic and licensed sUAS remote pilots have in common?  They’re all products or services offered by the organizations and people that won the 2021 NCET and EDAWN Awards.  

One of the many things I love about working at NCET is getting to meet the incredible people and companies who drive our vibrant and diverse business and technology community. One of the ways I discover them is through these annual awards. 

The NCET Tech Awards – now in its 14th year – celebrate the Northern Nevada individuals and companies who have greatly enhanced the growth and prestige of our technology community, while the EDAWN Awards recognize the people and resources that have played an integral part in contributing to the growth of our entrepreneurial community.  

Now, getting back to drinking fountains, orchestras, and distilleries, here are just a few of this year’s award-winning companies, organizations, and people: 

•         Luther Haws patented the drinking fountain in 1906, and today, Haws Corporation continues to build a wide range of drinking fountains and hydration systems, along with an extensive line of standardized and customized emergency response products. (www.hawsco.com)

•         Bently Heritage Estate Distillery is focused on creating world-class estate spirits, exclusively using their own grain grown on Bently Ranch in Minden. They meld modern techniques and an historic style to keep their operation scientific, sustainable, and innovative. (www.bentlyheritage.com)

•         When COVID-19 shuttered in-person performance venues, the Reno Phil moved online and created a wide variety of innovative and imaginative virtual formats in which to showcase their talented musicians. They also partnered with PBS Reno to share socially distanced performances recorded at the Pioneer Center. (www.renophil.com)

•         NVO Construction is disrupting the construction industry by combining proper construction means and methods with innovative thinking, cutting-edge technology, and radical process improvement.  NVO’s integrated framing solutions includes a broad selection of roof and floor trusses. (www.facebook.com/BuildNVOConstruction) 

•         Pathways to Aviation informs, inspires, and engages aviation and aerospace’s next generation by providing students and job seekers access to a secure and free career readiness certification system they designed to significantly increase their student’s chances of earning scholarships, accepting college enrollment offers, and winning job interviews. (www.pathwaystoaviation.org) 

•         Whether you have a cocktail napkin sketch or are redesigning a product that's already on the shelves, Innovative Drive adds core competencies to help you succeed. They specialize in all aspects of both product design and equipment manufacturing. (www.innovativedrive.com)

•         Guinivere Clark is a Content Creator II at PBS Reno – as well as the first FAA Part 107 licensed remote sUAS (drones) pilot at PBS Reno with over 140 flights. Guinivere started at PBS Reno as a high school intern and is now a Content Creator focusing primarily on station promotions and producing ARTEFFECTS. 

NCET and EDAWN will honor each of these people, companies, and organizations along with all the other winners at the NCET Tech Showcase and Awards Gala at 5 pm on Thursday, July 15 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. You can learn more about more than thirty winners and you can purchase tickets for the online Awards Gala at www.NCETawards.com. 

Dave Archer is president/CEO of Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET) which produces educational and networking events to help people explore business and technology. More info at www.NCET.org.