The Mass Technology Leadership Council, Inc. announced the first group of finalists of the Council’s annual Technology Leadership Awards honoring Massachusetts companies and individuals who best exemplify leadership and excellence in business and technology. Unlike most technology awards, The Technology Leadership Awards recognize outstanding achievement in both the development and deployment of information technologies that address critical business issues.

The first group of Finalists for the Awards program, announced June 26, 2008, were in the following categories: CEO; CXO; Innovator; Private Sector Company and Public Sector Organization of the year.

CEO

Walter Scott, Acronis Inc.

Diane Hessan, Communispace

Mark Shirman, Glasshouse Technologies

Christopher von Alt, Hydroid, LLC

Robert Keane, VistaPrint

CXO

Stephan Thieringer, Giunti Labs

Jon Pilkington, Metatomix, Inc.

Jeff Brown, Raytheon

Eric Hansen, SiteSpect, Inc.

Innovator

Jay Bhatt, Autodesk

Nicholas Carr, Author

Paul Graham, Y Combinator

Paul Zavracky, Northeastern University

Private Sector Company of the year

Constant Contact

Egenera

EMC

Endeca

Virtual Iron

Public Sector Organization

Beth Israel Medical Center

BostonFIRST

City of Boston

UMass Online

“The Mass Technology Leadership Council is committed to fostering entrepreneurship and promoting the success of companies that develop and deploy technology across industry sectors, and these awards are an important part of this effort,” said Tom Hopcroft, executive director of the Mass Technology Leadership Council. “These honorees represent the spirit of innovation, the history of accomplishment and the future promise that define the Massachusetts technology community.”

The next group of finalists will be announced on July 17, 2008, in the following categories: Emerging Innovative Company of the year, CTO, CIO and VC/ Investor of the year.

More than 160 submissions were received during the open nomination process. The Council’s Board of Trustees selected the finalists and a separate group of judges will determine the final winners. The winners will be announced at the Fall Awards Gala, October 23, 2008, at the Sheraton Boston.

For more information, visit www.masstechleaders.org.

About The Mass Technology Leadership Council, Inc.

The Mass Technology Leadership Council, Inc. is the only association that addresses the critical leadership issues of innovative software and technology-enabled companies. Formed by the combination of Massachusetts Software Council and New England Business and Technology Association, Inc., the organization is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and promoting the success of companies that develop and deploy technology across industry sectors. The Mass Technology Leadership Council conducts educational programs, hosts industry events, facilitates networking, sponsors research, advocates in favor of technology policies that promote innovation, entrepreneurship and competition, and recognizes industry-leading companies and people.