INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES
This award is given to the business flourishing in an innovative industry or approaching entrepreneurship in a groundbreaking manner via its products or services.
- Angel 7 Industries L.L.C.
- Director: Kerry S. Harris
- Location: San Antonio
- Type of Business: Research and Development for Military and Consumer Products
Former U.S. Navy pilot and Marine Corps officer Kerry S. Harris has been responsible for the innovation of numerous “game changing†technologies for both civilian and military markets since 2005. His latest venture, Angel 7 Industries, is a holding company and high-tech think tank specializing in the design and manufacture of combat helmets, optical systems, and tactical equipment for soldiers and law enforcement officials. Revenues reached $2.5 million in 2011.
- Business Empire Consulting L.L.C.
- Co-Founder/CEO: Bryan Young
- Location: Raleigh, NC
- Type of Business: Digital Marketing
It was after his 21st birthday that Bryan Young launched Business Empire Magazine, which has since become Business Empire Consulting (BEC), a full-service interactive marketing agency. Young, now age 25, bootstrapped the business with co-founders Brandon Blair, 24, and Matthew Laster, 24, while the trio was attending North Carolina State University. BEC offers search, social media, mobile marketing, Web video, and brand management. Clients include Clinique and the Charlotte Douglass International Airport. Revenues climbed above $500,000 in 2011.
- StreamVenue L.L.C.
- Co-Founder/CEO: Clayton Redmon
- Location: Dallas
- Type of Business: Endoscopy Technology
Clayton Redmon fosters innovation in endoscopy technology through StreamVenue Healthcare and its main products StreamingOR, software and instrumentation that allow for real-time broadcasts of high-definition surgical video, and EndoCloud, which is a long-term archive of surgical footage. Live streaming video during medical procedures is a valuable tool for athletic trainers, surgeons, and physical therapists seeking to view cases and discuss how best to manage post-operative recovery. StreamVenue generated a total of $1.5 million in 2011.
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