The Soft Pitch

Well I’m close to another deep Cubbie blue depression…Cubs are down 0-2 to Dodgers…the best team in NL is down 0-2 to the stinking Dodgers…my wife and I went to see our boys in blue in Chicago…what a great time to be there…if u have not experienced Wrigley, it’s fans and team… it is a must. The playoffs are electric…we so want to win…it’s only 100 years.

My life was planned in October to be at all their playoff games, flights booked etc…if we lose…what will I do all this month?

I flew back tp PHX on a very early flight for our monthly Avnet Executive Board meeting…I must have looked depressed walking in a few minutes late because my management friends and leaders did not hassle me…I brought them Cub pens…so I knew that might slow them down a bit.

So what is next? Well beyond the normal stuff to do…I could actually put more time in being a better chairperson for the Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards Dinner on Nov 13th…I was really honored to be asked by the Az Tech Council…then I actually talked their committee including the big cheese Steve Zylstra into changing the times and venue location…the Dodge Theatre (excellent place in downtown PHX)…the event is at 5pm…then a strolling dinner for those who want to stay…Did I say 5pm? Steve is nutter than me to agree.

I hate those standard receptions and dinners where you have to stay until the 10 o’clock news at your table do not move…boring. I give our Governor high marks in supporting technology and this event is huge with ove 1200 attendees each event. I seriously hope the earlier venue attracts more attendance because people can go home earlier and have a more balanced family life.

I did not change one thing…they have a very cool after hours party. Theme is green…also timely…another reason not be stuck in rush hour traffic when we can be at awards program at 5.  More later. the press release follows…check out the finalists, and the students are awesome every year and the honored guest is a spectacular choice!

Our committee lead by Leigh Goldstein is doing a very good job, as well as the support by Dave Drennon and Sandra Watson from Dept of Commerce…now let’s get signed up, and join us for big night !!!

Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards Finalists Showcase Best and Brightest Innovators in Arizona’s Technology Sector

Internationally recognized architect, artist, and philosopher Paolo Soleri to receive a “Lifetime Achievement Award” on November 13, 2008 at the Dodge Theatre

PHOENIX, Ariz., – September 22, 2008 — The Arizona Technology Council in partnership with the Arizona Department of Commerce and in conjunction with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, today announced the finalists for the 2008 Governor’s Celebration of Innovation Awards (GCOI). Winners will receive Arizona’s highest honor for technology innovation on November 13, 2008, at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix.

This year’s event features a theme of “Shift to Green” highlighting green technologies and will honor internationally recognized architect, artist, and philosopher Paolo Soleri with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” in recognition for his contributions in addressing Arizona’s issues of sustainability and the environment. Tickets for the prestigious awards gala include the pre-award show cocktail reception, awards ceremony, strolling dinner and a VIP Backstage “Green Room” party can be purchased at http://www.aztechcouncil.org.

The finalists were selected by a committee independent of the Council and chaired by Alaina G. Levine, director of Special Projects at the University of Arizona, College of Science. One company within each category will be announced as the winner at the GCOI event. The finalists in their respective categories are:

Individual Award Finalists:

• William F. McWhortor Community Service Leader of the Year: Daniel D. Von Hoff, MD, TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare; Jeff Morhet, InNexus Biotechnology Inc.; Terree Parlett Wasley, ASU Technopolis
• Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year: Steve Irons, ImageTag, Inc.; Roy Vallee, Avnet, Inc.; Jeff Morhet, InNexus Biotechnology Inc.

Company Award Finalists:

• Pioneering Innovation: Telesphere; Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems; Microsoft Corporation
• Green Innovator of the Year (NEW): i-Linc; Trilogy by Shea Homes; Global Research Technologies LLC
• Innovator of the Year – Start-Up Company: Flypaper Studios, Inc.; FetchBack;

Ubidyne, Inc.

• Innovator of the Year – Small Company: Succeed Corporation; Kutta Technologies, Inc.; Infusionsoft
• Innovator of the Year – Large Company: Raytheon Missile Systems; IBM Corporation
• Innovator of the Year – Academia: Phoenix Mars Mission; Biodesign Institute; Center for Applied Nanobioscience

Young Innovator of the Year Award Winners:

The “Best of the Best” of the Arizona Engineering and Science Fairs (grades 9-12) for the year 2007. Each of these students will receive a $1000 scholarship to further enhance their education.

• Steven Fan, Tucson High Magnet School; Shemonti Hasan, Hamilton High School; Adrian Laurenzi, Tucson High Magnet School; Smitha Ramakrishna, Coronoa del Sol High School

Teacher of the Year Award Winner:

• Kenneth Zeigler, Eagle Point School

About the Governor’s Celebration of Innovation

The Governor’s Celebration of Innovation was established in 2003 by combining two technology award ceremonies: the High Tech Industry Cluster’s 17-year Innovator of the Year awards ceremony and the Arizona Software and Internet Association’s 10-year “Celebration of Innovation.” With the addition of the Governor’s support, the Governor’s Celebration of Innovation has become the premier technology community gathering of its kind in Arizona. For more information on GCOI, please visit http://www.aztechcouncil.org.

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FYI The Cubs will win 2 in LA because our pitchers are better, and then go back and win the first series on Tuesday night.

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