On The Move
2010 Palmetto Pillar Technology Award Winners
Sep 9, 2010
COLUMBIA, SC - September 8, 2010 - Winners for the 2010 Palmetto Pillar Technology Awards were presented Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at a banquet at the Embassy Suites Hotel.
The2010 awards winners are:
Pillar of Student Achievement
Sponsored by: Midlands Technical College
The Pillar of Student Achievement award honors a student who exhibits a commitment to the advancement of technology.
Criteria included high academic achievement and above average dedication to educational and professional goals. Technology-related work experience (academic or otherwise) and community service was also considered.
Christopher Craft - 2010 Pillar of Student Achievement WINNER!
Christopher Craft: Christopher graduated with a Master in Education degree in December of 2008 with a 4.0 GPA. He will complete his Ph.D. with a 3.942 GPA. Christopher has completed his doctoral coursework and both qualifying and comprehensive examinations. He has completed his data collection for his research and is currently working on his dissertation. His research is exploring the best instructional design methodologies for teaching and learning in healthcare simulations. This is an important field as doctors are often getting fewer chances to learn how to perform lifesaving procedures on live patients. Healthcare costs are rising and malpractice insurance rates are soaring. In his tumultuous environment, medical schools are turning to simulations for teaching and learning.
The goal of Christopher’s research is to determine the best way to train caregivers to improve patients’ quality of life and care. Christopher teaches kids Spanish and Latin at CrossRoads Middle School and has been recognized for exemplary use of technology in education. For example, his classes at CrossRoads Middle School are almost entirely paperless. He uses an online interactive website for his students to practice vocabulary and take quizzes and tests. He also uses clickers in the classroom to gauge student learning while avoiding a lecture--‐based
approach. His classroom, much like his website, is interactive.
Pillar of One to Watch
Sponsored by: DP Professionals
The Pillar of One to Watch award recognizes the senior level IT employee, manager, or director who is most likely to become the decision maker of the future.
Finalists have demonstrated experience of upward career movement and the execution of sound IT business decisions.
John Davis - 2010 Pillar of One to Watch WINNER!
John Davis: As a technology leader for three different corporations over the past 12 years, he has accomplished enterprise-wide technology overhauls involving Citrix, virtualization, SAN, Microsoft, Cisco, Video Conferencing and innovative LAN/WAN/Telecom infrastructure. On two occasions, once at a large Health Care facility and once at a large local law firm, John took the reins of an outdated IT infrastructure and dysfunctional IT Department and transformed them into well functioning IT teams with a stable infrastructure using virtual server technology and Unified Communications that was documented by several vendors in Case Studies and used as reference architecture by others.
John was appointed by Senator Glenn McConnell to serve on an advisory panel for the state's Education Oversight Committee. He serves on the ITC’s Board, has spoken at local and national conferences, and has written numerous case studies and articles for publication in technology publications. John, along with 2 other members of the AgFirst infrastructure leadership, was recognized in the “CIO Digest” for innovative IT Leadership.
He has a strong employment history of upward mobility, not only in title, but in size and scope of teams, infrastructures, and businesses that he has managed.
Pillar of Leadership in Technology
Sponsored by: Consortium for Enterprise Management Systems
The Pillar of Leadership in Technology award is given to a chief information officer, chief technology officer or other technology executive who has demonstrated vision, leadership and support of technology initiatives.
Finalists have a clear record of driving the use of technology, a demonstrated ability to identify future needs, and a passion for serving their business through technology.
Khushru Tata - 2010 Pillar of Leadership in Technology WINNER!
Tata: Mr. Khushru (Khush) Tata is the Chief Information Officer of South Carolina Technical College System (SCTCS), which includes a statewide system with 16 technical/community colleges, a Center for Accelerated Technology Training for industry-specific training and a System Office (headquarters). He has over 18 years of professional experience in the technology field and possesses a BS in both Physics and Computer Science.
As the Chief Information Officer for the SC Technical College System, Mr. Tata leads the Information Technology (IT) division, sets strategic IT direction and provides vision and stewardship in leveraging IT to maintain the position of the SC Technical College System as a leader in education, training and workforce development.
Pillar of Public Service through IT
Sponsored by: Carolina First Bank
The Pillar of Public Service through IT award is given to government employees or teams who have designed, developed, deployed or improved existing systems that directly deliver services more efficiently and effectively to the public.
Criteria include demonstrating a creative, unique, and resourceful use of technology to better serve the public.
University Technical Services - 2010 Pillar of Public Service through IT WINNER!
University Technical Services: University Technology Services is the central IT organization for the University of South Carolina. The Project Management Office was initiated to lead the more complex and strategic IT efforts for the university and ensure timely completion of efforts and excellent stewardship of the University’s IT budget. Our first step was to define a structured methodology suitable for the university environment that is based on the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).
Pillar of Start-up Venture
Sponsored by: EngenuitySC
The Pillar of Start-up Ventures award recognizes the start-up company that develops new, innovative information technology related products or services.
Criteria include the level of innovation in the product or business model and demonstrated sustainability. Nominees should have started their IT business in the past two years and shown support of IT initiatives.
iTekka - 2010 Pillar of Start-up Venture WINNER!
iTekka: iTekka, Inc. was founded in May 2008 by a recent graduate of the College of Computing and Engineering at the University of South Carolina - Alexander Abrashkin. iTekka develops and markets proprietary time capture software that automates time recording process for service providing businesses, including, for example, law firms. The idea of automated time capture from office computers, mobile devices and telephone systems was first described in Alexander Abrashkin’s (CEO) master’s degree thesis awarded by the University of South Carolina in May, 2008. iTekka currently licenses this technology from the University of South Carolina Research Foundation, and has patent pending.
In November, 2008, iTekka was among the first companies to be accepted into the Microsoft BizSpark program for startups. In December of that same year, iTekka was selected into a highly competitive SC Launch Program and received project development funds. In May 2010 the SC Launch Program accepted iTekka into their portfolio and provided additional funding in the amount of $100,000 to conduct Beta testing of iTekka’s tekktoc™ software with prominent South Carolina Law firms, including the McNair Law Firm, P.A. In just two years the company has grown by leaps and bounds. Starting with just an idea and some talent, iTekka now employees 8 full and part time personnel, many of which are young and promising talent from USC, Clemson and the local Information Technology community.
Pillar of Technology in the Arts
Sponsored by: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
The Pillar of Technology in the Arts award is a special award given this year to recognize artists in any medium who either use information technology to create their art or promote information technology through art. Art organizations that use information technology in an innovative way to promote their group also will be considered.
Criteria include the most innovative intersection of information technology and art that also delivers a positive message that serves to promote information technology and the arts.
Jennifer Baxley - 2010 Pillar of Technology in the Arts WINNER!
Jennifer Baxley: Jennifer Baxley is an entrepreneur who started Severien in 2003 as a software development and technical consulting company. She is a strong advocate for South Carolina, community service, and technology & artistic endeavors, and for the past few years has successfully combined her fondness for all of those aspects into her vocation and avocations. She heavily supports the arts in Columbia, as she patronizes many local shows by artists, attends many theatre events, and supports local musicians and local business owners by frequenting many local venues.
Jennifer was born and raised in Columbia, SC and after graduating from Furman University in 1995 with a BS in Mathematics, she chose to return to the great city of Columbia. In 2009 she married Patrick Baxley who is not only the lead singer of the local band Hot Lava Monster, but he also owns a very successful company of electricians – Columbia Electric Service.
When she is not working on software or creating music videos, she is an aqua aerobics instructor for the YMCA; she is the spokesperson for the Jewelry Warehouse; she’s an avid listener of books on CD; she supports local restaurants, shows, and festivals; and enjoys living in a famously hot city.
Pillar of Licensed IT Product
Sponsored by: Palmetto Computer Labs
The Pillar of Licensed IT Product award is given to the business or organization that creates innovative licensable software and/or hardware solutions that helps address their clients’ needs and allows those clients to meet the needs of their customers, increase return on investment, and/or better meet their business objectives.
Criteria will be based upon the following weighting system: 33% for originality of product or service, 33% for measureable positive impact on user’s business or organization, and 34% for innovativeness of product or service.
iTekka - 2010 Pillar of Licensed IT Product WINNER!
iTekka: iTekka markets proprietary time and activity capture software for professionals including, attorneys, consultants, accountants, engineers and others. This software application, called tekktoc, enables the completely automatic capture and processing of billable time, as well as the collection of the most accurate usage data for time and cost analysis, individual and group performance assessments, technical audit and other types of productivity reports. Typically, professionals monitor time spent on different activities manually and later record it into a daily timesheet. This process is highly inefficient and results in many ‘lost/forgotten’ billable hours, a significant amount of time spent by professionals simply recording their time and substantial additional expenses for their organization. iTekka’s innovative software accurately identifies billable time by monitoring and categorizing the duration of day-to-day activities of key personnel from a variety of sources, including office telephone systems, handheld devices (calls and emails), desktop computer applications, as well as emails and calendar appointments and generates billable time reports automatically. iTekka offers tekktoc™ to its primary market – law offices – on a monthly subscription basis.
Pillar of Custom Application Development
Sponsored by: Edens & Avant
The Pillar of Custom Application Development award recognizes the developers of a custom-built software solution that addresses an internal business need or increases revenue, efficiency and/or productivity.
Criteria will be based upon the following weighting system: 33% for originality of product or service, 33% for measureable positive impact on user’s business or organization, and 34% for innovativeness of product or service.
SCANA - 2010 Pillar of Custom Application Development WINNER!
SCANA: An Information Services and Technology (IST) team lead by Mike Shamsedin developed this application to facilitate the inspection of electric transmission lines. Originally, inspectors collected and recorded data by driving or walking the ground using a clipboard and paper inspection forms. With the development of this product, called TAM (Transmission Assets Management System) information is collected from aerial inspection. GPS coordinates are stored in a database for each section of transmission line and a GIS system displays all lines and associated structures. The inspector checks the structure from the air, and selects from a menu of possible issues. With the cockpit computer, he may also check the history and all information for any given structure. After field inspection, he can update the database and upload data to the production server. Anyone with proper authority can access the information.
Before the creation of the TAM system, inspectors checked transmission lines from the ground using paper and pencil. They walked or drove the lines. The process was time consuming. Quality control was lacking as each inspector used his own notation system. In order to repair lines, the linemen had to physically go and get a copy of the inspector’s report of the in-box, run a copy, and take it out into the field where they had to identify the location visually and then decipher the inspector’s notes. This manual system is in use today by most utility companies, including large ones such as Duke.
Pillar of Cloud Services
Sponsored by: VC3
The Pillar of Cloud Services award recognizes hosted service provider technology companies that excel in providing innovative technology solutions that help their clients drive business, maximize efficiency, reduce costs and achieve short-term and long-term goals.
Criteria will be based upon the following weighting system: 33% for originality of product or service, 33% for measureable positive impact on user’s business or organization, and 34% for innovativeness of product or service.
Card Down Software & Business Vitals - 2010 Pillar of Cloud Services WINNER!
Card Down Software & Business Vitals: Lend on Demand (LOD), a web-based software as a service product developed by Card Down Software, is a comprehensive consumer lending solution. Every aspect of the solution is delivered securely “via the Cloud” (Internet). The solution is designed to facility the full life cycle of a consumer loan to include loan application and credit processing and scoring, loan origination and servicing, collections and reporting. The solution is designed to ensure compliance and reduce IT security and technology risk, all at predictable, monthly recurring cost, with little or no upfront capita. The LOD software complies with state by state regulatory requirements, and helps ensure compliance on virtually every level to include: software licensing usage, fraud mitigation, and business policy and procedures.
Card Down Software, a developer of niche application software solutions for under-served markets and Business Vitals, a premiere IT security and managed services provider, have partnered to provide an “in-the-Cloud” software and managed service IT solution for the consumer lending market.
Pillar of IT Infrastructure Services
Sponsored by: Willoughby and Hoefer
The Pillar of IT Infrastructure Services award is given to the business, team, or organization that uses cutting edge or creative solutions to enhance existing infrastructure or better execute IT network management and administration.
Criteria will be based upon the following weighting system: 33% for originality of product or service, 33% for measureable positive impact on user’s business or organization, and 34% for innovativeness of product or service.
BlueCross BlueShield of SC - 2010 Pillar of IT Infrastructure Services WINNER!
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina: Today, many companies are challenged with “doing more with less”. Virtualization is becoming increasingly popular to reduce cost, improve service, and manage risk. At BlueCross BlueShield, distributed servers started growing in number towards thousands and hence introduced increased energy costs, time to procure servers, provision these servers, and system administration costs. BlueCross BlueShield of SC decided to leverage it’s investment on Mainframe technology for the past 35 years with additional capabilities of Virtualization with Linux on the Mainframe.
Columbia’s Information Technology Council (ITC) was formed in 2000 by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce to serve the greater Columbia Region. The ITC reaches out to, acknowledges and embraces all who are involved in the IT community. The ITC programs are designed to create awareness, provide networking opportunities and to recognize achievement of those in the IT community.
The Chamber and the Information Technology Council would like to congratulate all the finalists and winners of the 2010 Palmetto Pillar Technology Awards and to thank the sponsors:
Platinum sponsors: Carolina First, DP Professionals, Embassy Suites and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
