SALT LAKE CITY – Senator Bob Bennett and the Utah Smart Sites Program honored four Utah firms representing the very best of rural Utah’s growing technology community with the first ever Excellence in Rural Technology Awards.

"The Excellence in Rural Technology Awards are a great opportunity to recognize Utah companies who exemplify the value of integrating new technologies into their businesses," said Bennett. "The four award winners and the finalists have proven that operating from a rural location will not prevent them from competing in an increasingly global and high-tech marketplace. I congratulate them on their success."

Nominations were submitted electronically on the Utah Smart Sites website. The winners were decided by the Utah Smart Sites, Utah Information Technology Association, and Wasatch Digital IQ Magazine. Successful nominees combined top notch technology with excellence as an employer and corporate citizen.

The awards were presented during the luncheon session of the Third Annual Rural Business Conference, hosted by Bennett and the Utah Rural Development Council, held in Richfield, Utah. The awards were given in four categories: Best Rural Technology Newcomer, Best Rural Technology Product, Best Small Rural Technology Firm, and Best Large Rural Technology Firm. The winners and finalists are listed below.

Best Rural Technology Newcomer – NWB Technology (Brigham City)

NWB Technology is a limited liability corporation owned by the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. NWB Technology's cutting-edge skills in DVD creation and Client Relationship Management provide high quality solutions at an affordable price. NWB Technology is currently engaged in a Department of Justice language translation project relating to homeland security. They were also awarded a $200,000,000 Indefinite Demand, Indefinite Quantity contract by the Department of Interior and an SBA 8(a) Business Development Certification in 2003.

For more information about NWB Technology, please contact Ivan Wongan at (435) 734-2286.

Best Rural Technology Newcomer Finalists

The Illusion Academy in Mt. Pleasant (cartoon animation and illustration) and Longs Digital Solutions in Hurricane (systems support and digital conversions)

Best Rural Technology Product – Steton Technology Group (St. George)

Steton's software is changing the way the quality and safety specialists monitor adherence to guidelines and regulations. Instead of using the less efficient paper and pencil method, inspectors can now perform their inspections utilizing software installed on a handheld computer device and then upload the results, from anywhere in the world, into Steton Quality Suite. Extensive reports that previously took weeks to create are ready instantly. Trends are identified, corrective actions are monitored to completion, and the data collected is more accurate. Many of the most recognized companies in the world, such as Best Western, Wal-Mart, JohnsonDiversey, Wendy's, Burger King, Arby's, Del Monte, SkyWest, and General Mills, have turned to Steton to help protect their most valuable assets -- people, products, and brands.

For more information about Steton, please contact Jed Alldredge at (435) 656-5655 ext. 4208.

Best Rural Technology Product Finalists

Information Connections in Logan (DVD authoring software) and LearnKey in St. George (online expert e-learning software)

Best Small Rural Technology Firm (Not More Than 25 Employees) – Footprints (Moab)

Footprints provides custom business software development solutions for clients worldwide such as the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, Franklin Covey, the Port of Angeles and Pacific Bell. Footprints gives back to the local community in many ways including their own Kindergarten Reading Initiative and sponsorship of Junior Engineering Day at HMK Intermediate School. In addition, they grant employees paid time off to volunteer at local schools, provide free computer classes to members of the community, and distribute free CDs when new computer viruses are identified.

For more information about Footprints, please contact John Andrews or Jim Collar at (800) 635-5280.

Best Small Rural Technology Firm Finalists

Davasi Consulting in Brigham City (software development) and Longs Digital Solutions in Hurricane (systems support and digital conversions)

Best Large Rural Technology Firm (Over 25 Employees) – LearnKey (St. George)

LearnKey and its 135 workers provide e-learning technology, online learning solutions and self-paced training courses for consumers around the world. Recognized by peers as the world’s best e-learning tool, LearnKey boasts hundreds of clients such as 3M, Dell Computer, Coca-Cola, American Express, Harvard Law School and America Online. Utah State University, Southern Utah University, University of Phoenix, and Utah school districts statewide also use their products. LearnKey provides the remote learning platform for the Utah Smart Site Program and has donated over $400,000 of computer training materials to the initiative. Its Online Expert courses have trained 1,600 rural Utahns including 230 individuals from low-income families. They were also instrumental in the creation of Tuacahn High School’s computer learning center.

For more information about LearnKey, please contact Ken Perkins at (435) 674-9733.

Best Large Rural Technology Firm Finalists

Information Alliance/Information Connections in North Logan (customer relationship management and DVD authoring), Steton Technology Group in St. George (safety and quality monitoring software), and Uinta River Technology in Ft. Duchesne (tribally-owned 8(a) IT firm)

8:27:23 AM    

"Upon the request of President Reagan, I had the opportunity to visit with him at the White House when I was a legislator. I was impressed by his leadership, patriotism and commitment to the citizens of the United States of America," said Gov. Olene Walker. "His valiant stand against communism will always be remembered. Utah offers its condolences to his family at this sad time."

The flag will be flown at half staff at the Capitol and the Governor's Mansion this evening and at state facilities as soon as possible.

8:20:49 AM