Company of the Year - Purcell Systems Inc.

Purcell Systems, Inc., is a leading global designer and manufacturer of configurable outdoor enclosures and system-level integrated solutions. Serving some of the largest names in the global telecommunications industry with custom as well as pre-engineered enclosures, Purcell Systems delivers Operating Expenditure savings and efficiencies through outside plant solutions. Featuring advanced thermal management designs, the company’s products serve a variety of applications in markets that include communications, energy/utility, cable/MSO and government/military. With over 10 years’ proven expertise and thousands of installations worldwide, Purcell Systems provides quality solutions and services with unmatched speed, flexibility, and 365/24/7 Fanatical Service®. Pictured: Pete Chase

Organization of the Year - EWU - School of Computing and Engineering Sciences

Launched in 2005, and building on three decades of prior activity in computer science and engineering, the School of Computing and Engineering Sciences (SCES) is a major pipeline of technology advancement and innovation for the region. EWU and SCES have produced over 4000 graduates in computer and engineering related areas and helped over 20 spin off companies emerge, some now with several hundreds of employees. Project partners for SCES include Avista, Itron, Triumph, Goodyear, SIRTI, NextIT, District 81, Intrinium, TriGeo and many more. Via its robotics and other youth events, SCES actively promotes STEM education and outreach in the region. Pictured left to right: Jude Case, Christian Hansen, Steve Simmons

Ken Grunzweig Innovator of the Year - Jon Eliassen

Jon Eliassen is President and Chief Executive Officer of Red Lion Hotels Corporation, a publicly-traded company with 43 owned and franchised West Coast properties. Prior to the Red Lion, Eliassen was President and CEO of the Spokane Area Economic Development Council and also Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Avista Corp., a publicly-traded utility. While at Avista, Eliassen helped develop several successful companies, including Itron Inc., Avista Labs (now ReliOn) and Avista Advantage (now Advantage IQ). Eliassen currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Itron Inc., is a member of the IT Lifeline Board of Directors and is the principal of Terrapin Capital Group, LLC.

Emerging Innovator of the Year - Josh Neblett and Sarah Neblett

GreenCupboards is an online retailer of environmentally friendly products for homes and businesses. The company differentiates itself by offering a vast array of products, pursuing multiple channels of distribution, providing exquisite customer service and serving as a source of intriguing content. GreenCupboards was co-founded by Josh & Sarah Neblett and Tom Simpson after winning a business plan competition between EWU, Gonzaga and Whitworth. Now in its third year, the company has more than 30 employees, is experiencing explosive growth and is profitable. GreenCupboards has an enviable board including David Barbieri (Red Lion CIO), Joe Herzog (BergCo. CFO), Murray Huppin (OneCall CEO) and Wayne Williams (Telect CEO).

Mentor of the Year - Yvonne Luman

Yvonne has worked with Spokane Public Schools in the Career & Technical Education department for the past 12 years. With a degree in education and background in government procurement, computers and networking, it seemed natural to recruit students. Numerous students from elementary through college have participated in TEC clubs, camps and internships that Yvonne has created. Yvonne's passion is to encourage students to develop who they are and what they stand for, inasmuch as what they aspire to do. She believes it is equally important to surround ourselves with mentors and coaches to challenge us. Life is a journey of learning and growing. She values the role her mentors have played for her. In a way, she's paying that forward...over and over. Through her countless efforts she connects students with the community, educators and employers to guide these students toward being a person of character as well as develop the skills and experience for the future endeavors.

Clean/Green Company of the Year - ReliOn

ReliOn is a world leader in the delivery of hydrogen fuel cell systems for backup power at communication sites, with more than 3.8 megawatts of fuel cell product delivered to 1,300 customer locations. ReliOn works with wireless, wireline and government communications customers to provide solutions to power requirements between 50 Watts and 20 kW. ReliOn’s patented fuel cell solutions provide highly reliable, fault-tolerant, clean performance and extended runtime at a cost benefit over many other backup power options. Pictured: Gary Flood

Clean/Green Organization of the Year - Sustainable Resources INW

Sustainable Resources INW is a Spokane-based educational non-profit dedicated to increasing the community’s awareness and utilization of sustainable practices regarding natural, social and financial resources. As such, they are a resource to the community, providing the training, support services and access to a network of resources that businesses, organizations, and our community needs to keep going strong for the long run. The broad range and nature of their services is unique in our region, affordable, accessible, and provides the platform to catalyze the transformational change needed to strongly position our community for the 21st Century’s challenges and opportunities. Pictured: Susanne Croft

The Catalyst Awards are presented by Greater Spokane Incorporated, Technet and the Spokane University District. Sponsors of this year's Catalyst Awards include McKinstry, the Journal of Business, Dean Davis Photography, Lydig, Avista, Community Colleges of Spokane, Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, Washington State University Spokane and Whitworth University.n

 

2010 Winners:

Company of the Year

HOTSTART

Clean/Green Company of the Year

McKinstry

Organization of the Year

Goodwill Industries Empowerment Zone

Clean/Green Organization of the Year

Spokane Indians Baseball Club/Avista Stadium

Mentor of the Year

Norm Leatha - Gonzaga University Hogan Program

 

Ken Grunzweig Innovator of the Year

Kim Zentz - Sirti

Emerging Innovator of the Year

Brian Boler, Caryn Parker, Reid Schilperoot, Andy Whitaker - EcoWell

 

Previous winners of the Catalyst Awards have included

• Absolution Aviation
• Signature Genomics
• Telect Inc.
• Avista Corporation
• Washington State University
• Itron, Inc.
• Inland Northwest Health Services
• Gonzaga University Hogan Program
• Fred Brown, CEO of NextIT
• John Overby, Sirti

For a complete list of winners, please visit www.greaterspokane.org website.

 

 

Greater Spokane Incorporated is committed to accelerating regional economic prosperity throughout the Spokane region. Greater Spokane Incorporated is funded by more than 1500 private-sector member investors; Spokane County; and the cities of Spokane; Spokane Valley; Liberty Lake; Cheney; Airway Heights; and Medical Lake. For more information, visit www.greaterspokaneincorporated.org or contact us at 509-624-1393 or 1-800-SPOKANE.

Founded in 1991 to enhance the local technology networking of Inland NW businesses and organizations, Technet served as the primary coordinator of technology events for the region. As founders of the Catalyst Award, Technet serves the community by supporting the annual Catalyst Awards to recognize innovation in technology. The Technet Board of Directors focuses on supporting scholarships for students interested in technology fields.

The Catalyst Innovator of the Year award honors Mr. Ken Grunzweig, a local entrepreneur, volunteer and mentor who exemplified the essence of innovation and provided many hours of support to organizations like Technet, Gonzaga University and numerous start-up companies. Mr. Grunzweig passed away in 2004 after a brief illness.

The University District is a live/work/play confluence of innovation, discovery, entrepreneurship, scholarship and neighborhood development that provides an ongoing stream of economic growth and business opportunity for the region. The District offers opportunities to address economic development issues, urban growth, environmental restoration, transportation and affordable housing needs. Connecting the core strengths of the educational institutions with regional economic drivers forms an urban laboratory for the creation of new knowledge and opportunities for applied, community-engaged research, resulting in economic value and quality of life. More information...