TROY ? Gail Torreano of AT&T, Josh Linkner of ePrize and John Crary of Lear headlined the winners of the Sixth Annual Automation Alley Awards handed out Friday night at the General Motors Heritage Center in Sterling Heights.
Torreano was named Legend CEO, Linkner CEO of the Year and John Crary CIO (Chief Information Officer) of the Year.
Torreano was chosen as Legend CEO for her continued commitment to the State of Michigan. In recent years, she has made it a priority to underscore the importance of technological investments in retaining and attracting jobs to the region. Torreano began her career with Michigan Bell in 1991 and has maintained an active role in the community serving in various positions with the Metro Detroit READS program, New Detroit, the Detroit Regional Chamber and Detroit Renaissance.
Linkner, named CEO of the Year, manages ePrize, the largest interactive promotions agency in the world. Linkner founded ePrize in 1999 as the sole employee; the company now expects to have 680 employees in Michigan and 750 globally by 2009. More than 60 million people participated in ePrize promotions last year as the company experienced a 54 percent sales increase. In addition to the Automation Alley award, Linkner has been named the Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and received the Crain?s Detroit Business ?40 under 40? designation.
Additional award winners include:
Emerging Leader: Gary Pilibosian, president and CEO, Microheat, Inc. (Farmington Hills)
Automation Alley Member of the Year: Dawn Smith, supervisor, administrative services, Oakland County (Pontiac)
Technology Company of the Year: Lear (Southfield)
Emerging Technology Company of the Year: Plexus Systems (Auburn Hills)
Educational Program of the Year: Integration 2000, Malow Junior High (Shelby Township)
Non-Profit of the Year: New Horizons Rehabilitation Services, Inc. (Auburn Hills)
Winners are chosen based on submitted nomination packages that are reviewed and evaluated by a pre-selected committee.
?Tonight?s Awards Gala winners represent the forerunners in the region?s technology industry,? said Ken Rogers, executive director, Automation Alley. ?They are leading the way for companies and individuals perusing new and exciting avenues for our economy. The Alley is excited to support and recognize these efforts.?
To learn more, click on AutomationAlley.Com
