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By Andrew Eder A pair of solar-lighting entrepreneurs, a small technology firm and the area’s largest health care system were among the recipients of this year’s Navigator Awards. The awards, which seek to “celebrate the successes of local companies and encourage entrepreneurship and expansion in the Innovation Valley,” were handed out at a luncheon Tuesday at the Knoxville Marriott. Duncan Earl and John Morris of Oak Ridge-based Sunlight Direct were recognized as entrepreneurs of the year for their work with the company’s Hybrid Solar Lighting technology, which channels sunlight into the interiors of buildings. Covenant Health was named technology company of the year for large businesses. A news release cited the “massive information technology operation” needed to serve Covenant’s network of hospitals and clinics, as well as the medical technology advances implemented by the company in the last year. Cadre5, a Knoxville technology and design firm, was named technology company of the year for small businesses. The company has worked to commercialize an Oak Ridge National Laboratory sensor technology, and recently installed an emergency-alert system in the Pentagon. Nuclear services firm EnergySolutions won the community service award for large businesses, while veteran-owned technical services firm Strata-G won for small businesses. The awards were sponsored by the Innovation Valley Technology Council, an association of more than 250 technology-related companies in the area. Business writer Andrew Eder may be reached at 865-342-6318. © 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co. |
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