Grand Strand Technology Leadership & Innovation Award Winners Announced

The Grand Strand Technology Council proudly announces the Award Winners for the 2011 Grand Strand Technology Leadership & Innovation Awards. A large crowd representing area technology professionals celebrated the Finalists and Winners Thursday, November 17th.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Press Release) — November 21, 2011 — The Grand Strand Technology Council (www.gstechcouncil.org) was excited to honor seventeen finalists and four award winners for the 2011 Grand Strand Technology Leadership & Innovation Awards. The nominees were judged on the objective of the project, the project results and the degree of difficulty in the technology integration.

"Today's recognitions go to the leaders in local technology initiatives; the dreamers, the innovators and the doers. They represent people who work with a passion toward their goals, with technology as both the conduit and the result. Today we honor educators, business people, volunteers and entrepreneurs who play critically important roles in our region. Their innovative initiatives highlight the Grand Strand and its capabilities, as we seek expanded economic opportunities for our future."

Denise Ambuhl, President,
Grand Strand Technology Council

Technology Advancement — recognizing technology development, adaptation or service innovation:

The Winners in the Technology Advancement category are:

Mr. Justin Essary and Mrs. Holley Legg — Coastal Carolina University
The initiative called Technology in Education to Advance Learning or (TEAL) Online is a comprehensive electronic repository system housing thousands of documents for collecting assessment data, establishing information autoflow, and generating reports. This custom web-based enterprise-class application was designed through a significant collaborative effort among several Coastal Carolina University departments, committees, and IT. The main objectives were to support and enhance institutional assessment, measure progress, and ensure strategic alignment.

The system repository provides an assessment schedule that keeps each unit focused on continuous improvement. It also keeps the University's strategic initiatives front and center for faculty and staff, since the goals and objectives from the unit reports must be aligned to the University Strategic Plan. It took over eight hundred (800) man-hours and 3 to 4 years to complete. TEAL Online was featured in the March 2011 issue of Campus Technology magazine in the article "Putting the Focus on Performance." While many individuals played important roles in the development of this application, two key individuals were instrumental in completing and maintaining the system: Mrs. Holley Legg (Institutional Research), a primary tester and a liaison between IT and other entities, and Mr. Justin Essary (IT), the lead programmer from the Web Group.

The Finalists in the Technology Advancement category are:

Trey Davis — Mercom Corporation
Paul Reynolds — The Digitel Myrtle Beach
Lucas Richardson — Horry County Government
Justin Rockwell — Blast Off, Inc.
Scott Van Moppes — Myrtle Beach International Airport
Don Withers — The Training Company

Technology in the Community — recognizing the use of technology for the benefit of the public:

The Winner in the Technology in the Community category is:

Mr. Lucas Richardson — Horry County Government
Government transparency is a key concern of its constituents and has been expressed by President Obama as a major focal point of needed improvement for government. In Horry County, Council meetings are televised on local cable channels for viewing. However there was once little opportunity to see the entire meeting if you missed the television time slot.

Lucas Richardson, a network technician who does help desk and field support for Horry County Government employees, changed this with his passion for technology and personal initiative to improve the County's transparency. This project is not considered part of his area of expertise or responsibility. However, Lucas has added

Live web stream broadcasts of all county council meetings

Instant playback is now available at any time via the county website

Agendas are indexed with dynamic links to video of the agenda item

The Council of the Whole and other committee meetings are now broadcasted via cable channel and live stream.

Other events such as budget retreats, and ribbon cuttings are now being video recorded and available for playback on the county's website.

Lucas had to juggle his normal tasks, learn the new technology, install replacement equipment, and learn how to now record live county council meetings. In addition, he worked after hours to video and stream any after-hours meetings. There were numerous challenges including the need for a complete overhaul of the video room above county council chambers. Throughout this process, Lucas played an invaluable leadership role in the advancement of transparency within Horry County.

The Finalists in the Technology in the Community category are:

Ted Fortenbury — WMBF News
Ashley Gasperson — Horry County Schools
Andre Pope — Horry Georgetown Technical College
Paul Reynolds — TheDigitel Myrtle Beach
Justin Rockwell — OIR Interactive
Dave Slusher — CREATE South

Technology in Education and Charity — recognizing technology projects benefitting all areas of education and charitable organizations (two winners):

The winner in Technology in Charity category is:

Mr. Marino de la Cruz — Mercom Corporation
As Mercom's MIS Manager, Marino de la Cruz is kept extremely busy with managing all MIS concerns for a multimillion dollar company. However, Mr. de la Cruz takes time out of his busy schedule to support a charity near and dear to his heart, Teach My People; an organization that provides year-round programs of academic assistance, character development, cultural and spiritual enrichment and physical activity at no cost to families.

Mr. de la Cruz has designed, implemented and tested a computer lab, five computers and a small wireless network so that the children of Teach My People have the digital exposure they require to keep up with their peers. Without this selfless act, the children of Teach My People would not have the technical skills needed to achieve educational advancement.

The Winner in the Technology in Education category is:

Dr. Virginia Simmons — Horry County Schools
Under Dr. Simmons' leadership, Horry County Schools Adult Education has moved from a position of having very few computers to having five computer labs equipped with Computer Aided Instruction for computer literacy, reading programs, math programs, English as a second language programs, virtual high school classes, pre GED and GED online; and the addition of two virtual teachers to assist students in these labs.

Teachers are using SMARTBoards and document cameras in the classroom and laptops and LCD projectors have almost replaced the whiteboards. Kindles for academic use were purchased as a pilot project last year and this year, iPADS have been purchased for all full-time teachers. In addition, all Adult Education students are participating in the credentialed program of WorkKeys.

Dr. Simmons has worked with district personnel to include adult education teachers — once left out of technology purchases — in the laptop initiative and now the SMARTBoard initiative. She has written numerous grants for computers and the computer labs. She has also written grants to secure programs like "Tell Me More" which is now being used with the ESL population and the basic students. Dr. Virginia Simmons has been recognized by the adult education world as a technology leader.

The Finalists in the Technology in Education and Charity category are:

Ashley Gasperson — Horry County Schools
Nicole Hyman — HTC
Andre Pope — Horry Georgetown Technical College
Melissa Schamel — Horry County Schools
Bucky Sellers — Horry County Schools

The Grand Strand Technology Council thanks all of our members of our community for their support of these awards. We congratulate our finalists and winners. We look forward to presenting our finalists in 2012 for their future accomplishments in Grand Strand Technology.

Grand Strand Technology Council Founder and Chairman, Dr. John Sanders, believes that the Grand Strand is poised to be a technology hub for the region. "We have the telecommunications infrastructure and amenities to support it," Sanders stated. "The iTAP project will bring many new opportunities for us as well."

Specific Questions can be addressed to:

Peter Delle Donne, Grand Strand Technology Council Director
Email: dash01776@aol.com, Phone: 978-852-2696

John Sanders, Grand Strand Technology Council Chairman
Email: gstechcouncil@yahool.com, Phone: 843-491-6060

About The Grand Strand Technology Council (www.gstechcouncil.org)
The GSTC is a non-profit membership organization with a goal of "Enhancing the Region's Technology-Based Businesses." Their members include technology-driven companies, organizations, educational institutions and government agencies, as well as individual technology professionals. If you have a business interest in technology along the Grand Strand, you are invited to join the Council as a Technology Associate or Individual Member. Please go to their website at www.gstechcouncil.org for more information.