Winners
Technology Company of the Year: GeoLearning, Inc.
GeoLearning is the leading provider of managed learning services and hosted learning technology. Its technology products and services are used by corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations to manage human capital development, accelerate critical business processes and drive organizational performance.
Information Technology Service Provider of the Year: Pearson Government Solutions
Pearson Government Solutions is one of the fastest growing federal contractors in the United States. Clients include the U.S. Departments of Education; Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Labor; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Social Security Administration; Office of Personnel Management; American Red Cross; University of California; and London Borough of Southwark.
Community Impact Award: Caleris, Inc.
Caleris is a business process outsourcing provider, which primarily serves as a technical support and customer service contact center. Based in West Des Moines, the company has been providing technical support and related services since 1993. Owners Dean “Rick” Grewell and Sheldon S. Ohringer purchased the company (then ECI) in late 2003 and have since stimulated substantial growth in the company’s revenue, clients, and services offered. The company specializes in technical support for Internet Service Providers and consumer electronics manufacturers, as well as customer service for insurance companies. Caleris currently has 60 employees.
Educator of the Year: Lawrence J. Genalo, Ph.D.
Dr. Larry Genalo is an Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Iowa State University. He serves as Academic Director for the College of Engineering’s K-12 Outreach efforts. He received a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics with Systems Engineering emphasis in 1977. He has been an Associate Professor at ISU since 1981.
Business Product of the Year: Gemvision Corporation
Gemvision brings jewelers and technology together by using cutting-edge technology to solve traditional problems associated with designing and building jewelry.
E-Commerce Initiative of the Year: Spindustry Systems, Inc.
Spindustry Systems, Inc., which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, creates business-building strategies for website design, web database application development, web hosting, search engine optimization, internet consulting, and technical training. The company specializes in database-driven custom web design and development, and has offices in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, with training facilities in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, and the Quad Cities.
Economic Impact Award: Medinotes Corporation
CEO and President Don Schoen developed MediNotes Corporation in 1995, with a system to help physicians create electronic patient records.
Inventor of the Year: Abir Qamhiyah, Ph.D.
Dr. Abir Qamhiyah has invented a geometric-based search engine to allow engineers to search the web based on 30 geometric shapes. Called CADSEEK, the shape-based search engine uses 3D geometry as the basis for Internet searches, rather than a text-based description or one using other limited parameters. Dr. Qamhiyah, a professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University, says, “Since the algorithm captures the totality of shapes, including surfacing information and associated detail, CADSEEK’s shape coding is 100% accurate, producing unparalleled search precision.”
Outstanding Startup: MobileDemand
MobileDemand products and services are created to allow food and beverage wholesalers to increase the overall efficiency of their sales and delivery operations, comply with supplier directives and mandates, and improve overall customer satisfaction. These systems are also effectively used in warehousing, manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality industries.
