The Reason for SHIFT
Celebrating Local Tech Stories
So, there's been a lot of discussion around town as to why we at SiteCrafting felt we needed to create the SHIFT Awards. The answer is actually very simple. We're creating this recognition event to celebrate local business and their utilization of technology.
This event springs from the refrain that was often heard at the South Sound Technology Conference about how we in the South Sound need to get together and create events around technology and collaboration. The reality is that there is a ton of great stuff going on in the South Sound relating to technology, and it's about time we look around and say, "Hey this is a pretty great place to live, work, and innovate."
This event springs from the refrain that was often heard at the South Sound Technology Conference about how we in the South Sound need to get together and create events around technology and collaboration. The reality is that there is a ton of great stuff going on in the South Sound relating to technology, and it's about time we look around and say, "Hey this is a pretty great place to live, work, and innovate."
I'd like to explain a bit of our vision for this event by first clarifying what the SHIFT Awards are not about, and then what our true purpose has been for this idea, as well as some insight on the honorees and goals for the event this year and beyond. So here goes...
The SHIFT Awards are not: - A money making venture for SiteCrafting or any other organization
- A judged event like the Academy Awards or the Olympics - there is no "Best of"
- "The SiteCrafting Awards". Companies have been suggested to us by our advisory committee. This committee is made up of local media, educational institutions, and government agencies. Additionally, we have solicited local and regional city managers and economic development agencies for companies with compelling stories.
The SHIFT Awards are:
- A recognition event that is meant to highlight the good news in technology use/innovation in the South Sound
- An opportunity for us to meet and hear from four local companies our advisory committee selected as having a story worth hearing
- Is meant to be an annual event to bring together local firms
The Advisory Committee:
- Is a group of local volunteers representing a variety of industries in our area
- Is providing the nominations for the finalists as part of the recognition selection process this first year
- Is willing to grow in coming years
The Honorees
- "Winners" are local companies the advisory committee felt deserved recognition for work they have done.
- Some are new ventures who's stories are compelling, others are veteran companies who's stories we may have not heard for some time, and still others are "low tech" companies embracing technology in order to succeed.
The Event and Beyond
- Cocktail / networking time at the Theatre on the Square the night of March 10
- Presentation of the companies where each company will have 10 slides and 10 minutes to tell their story
- Post-presentation time for more networking and dessert
- A ticket fee will be charged in hopes of covering the majority of catering and event space
- Our hope is to bring the honorees back each year for a short recap of what they've accomplished in the past year as well as to celebrate the honorees in coming years.
So that's pretty much it. I hope that spells it out a little clearer and I hope you will join us to bring attention and recognition to South Sound companies embracing technology. We have much to be proud of as a community AND much work to do.
More information can be found at: http://theshiftawards.com
More information can be found at: http://theshiftawards.com
Great explanation. I am happy to see efforts to bring attention to the great technology and innovation that is going on in the South Sound, not just by technology companies but by industries applying technology solutions in order to serve the community better.
With a few more events, we might actually see an ongoing critical mass of networking and collaboration. I just finished having coffee with a group of folks who want to promote more social media use. What was great was that their were more new faces than familiar in the group.
Looking forward to the celebratory event and have it on the calendar.
Left by Andrew Fry | Feb. 3, 2010 at 3:03pm
Thanks for the great explanation, Brian. Could you share who, in addition to industry and sector, is on the selection committee? The event is right around the corner, so I would imagine this is either in process or complete. Also, can you share a little more on the selection criteria?
Looking forward to the event!
J9
Left by Janine Terrano | Feb. 7, 2010 at 9:24am
Thanks for the feedback Andrew and Janine. To your questions:
The selection committee is comprised of 6 individuals all with knowledge of technology firms in the South Sound. In addition to the names below, we also solicited names from city government, economic development representatives, and elected officials. The members of the selection committee are:
Andrew Fry - University of WA Tacoma and Event Emcee
Emily West - General Manager, The Business Examiner
Bob Levin - Economic Development - City of Tacoma
Jeff Rounce - CEO of the Business Examiner
Chris Gleason - Tacoma Public Utilities
Brian Forth - President - SiteCrafting
As to the selection criteria - Initially we began as a group discussing recognition in categories (renewable energy, use of social media, etc.) but we quickly discovered that it is/was going to be very difficult to categorize the firms who's names we received. As a result we discussed collectively how this event could be more of a celebration of compelling stories of use/innovation of technology in the South Sound.
We determined that the focus of the evening would be on four firms - telling their story via 10 slides in 10 minutes. Setting this restriction will keep the event on track and will make the firms stay on track to tell their story in a succinct way. Firms will be invited to present this week and we hope all who are invited agree to present. This really is about them and their stories.
It is our goal as a committee that this event continue to grow year after year. Hopefully the archived stories on the website will compel others to nominate firms in the coming year and/or participate on the advisory committee.
Left by Brian at SC | Feb. 8, 2010 at 10:40am
Interesting idea. Seems it would be better served to call it the Sitecrafting Shift Awards. The Advisory Board is made up of Brian, the owner of Sitecrafting, and 3 of Sitecrafting's clients. The other 2 members have close ties to Sitecrafting. Doubt there will be an impartial view for participants, but I do think it is a brilliant marketing ploy for Sitecrafting.
Cheers,
Mike
Left by Michael Keith | Feb. 14, 2010 at 5:15pm
Thanks for the comments Mike. This first year of the Shift Awards we chose to invite some very trusted professionals from the Tacoma area. We will be honoring companies in the South Sound that are using unique technology to further their business. We asked our advisory committee, as well as others in the community, to nominate companies who do this, and those nominations included both companies we have worked with, as well as ones we have not (including some of our competitors). We are very much looking forward to honoring those companies that make good use of technology, regardless of their ties to SiteCrafting.
I sincerely hope you can make it to the Shift Awards to see the nominees and honorees. And come next year, I hope you will nominate a company as well.
Left by Mark at SC | Feb. 14, 2010 at 7:36pm
Appreciate the comments. Maybe next year you could make it better known how to nominate. Seems that the nomination process was not made public? Perhaps I am just not well informed. Still think it would be more accurate, or legitimate to call it what it is, Sitecrafting's Shift Awards.
Mike
Left by michael Keith | Feb. 14, 2010 at 8:48pm
I don't think we have ever hidden that this is a SiteCrafting event. In fact, the name SHIFT comes from SiteCrafting Honors Innovation and Forward Thinking.
Due to the tight timeline we asked the advisory committee to submit the most compelling stories from the South Sound for recognition. We are vetting those groups and encouraging them to participate. In the coming years we will solicit nominations well in advance. (We actually did this this year, but most people did not pay attention).
Regardless, this event is about celebrating the firms that have elected to call the South Sound home. We are lifting them up with out prejudice or motive.
Take that as you will, but that is our sole purpose. If you'd like a complimentary ticket to find out just how sincere we are, please contact me and I will personally cover your admission.
Left by Brian at SC | Feb. 14, 2010 at 10:18pm
One more point would be around the nominees - SiteCrafting is only tangentially related to a couple of them (not unexpected in an area where we have many clients). I would think the nominees would say more about our bias than our advisory committee.
Conspiracy theorists may see it as a play for new business, but I think we could all see through that. The companies that are being recognized are doing it regardless of SiteCrafting's participation and we salute them. There are many paths to success, and we are big enough to know that is the case.
Left by Brian at SC | Feb. 14, 2010 at 11:19pm
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