Award Frequently Asked Questions
Who won in previous years?
- The list of award winners and finalists from 2004
- The list of award winners and finalists from 2005
- The list of award winners and finalists from 2006
- The list of award winners and finalists from 2007
What is ITFlorida's Awards Gala?
ITFlorida's third annual Awards Gala will bring together Florida's information technology leaders from both the private sector and government to honor innovative individuals, businesses and initiatives from across the state for their contributions to the advancement of information technology for Florida. The Gala will showcase and promote Florida's rich, IT-driven, high tech landscape.
What is the Agenda for the Awards Gala?
- Introduction (2:00 pm)
- First Keynote Address
- Panels and Breakouts
- Networking Reception
- Evening Keynote Address, Dinner, and Awards Ceremony
What Companies, Initiatives and Business Leaders May Participate?
The Awards Gala is open to participation by all Florida-focused companies (or operations), business leaders, or initiatives that represent IT as an industry vertical by itself or that are driven or enabled by IT.
Representative sectors include:
- Communications Technologies Digital Media
- Education Technology
- eGovernment
- eCommerce
- Infrastructure Development & Security
- Internet Technology
- IT Training
- Multimedia Technology
- Network Access Points
- Modeling, Simulation & Training
- Software/Firmware Applications Telecommunications
- Wireless Technologies
What Regions do Particular Counties Fall Within?
For purposes of the regional awards, the state has been divided into 6 regions: Northeast, Northwest, Central, Tampa Bay, Southwest, and Southeast. View the statewide map to see the regional boundaries.
What are the Categories of Regional Awards?
Each region will present an award from one of three broad categories: business initiative, business leadership, and new or growth company. Based on the input from regional groups, these categories have been kept intentionally broad so that the regions have discretion in deciding the category of award that best identifies and promotes the IT accomplishments of that particular region.
How are the Regional Awards being Judged?
Each of the six regions (Southeast, Southwest, Tampa Bay, Central, Northeast, Northwest) will convene a regional selection panel for the particular regional award. Each region has significant discretion in both determining the category of award given and the specific selection criteria.
What are the Categories of Statewide Awards?
The Awards Gala will make statewide awards for the following categories:
- Excellence in IT Leadership (Six Regional Awards)
- Small Business of the Year
- High Growth Company of the Year
- Government Technology Leadership (Two Awards: Public and Private)
- Excellence in Bridging the Digital Divide
- Excellence In New Business Recruitment
- Excellence in Web 2.0
- Excellence in Sustainability through Information Technology
- Innovation and Entrepreneurialism Award
- ITFlorida Legislator of the Year Award
- IT Leader of the Year (One Statewide Award)
How are the Statewide Awards being Judged?
Independent panels of subject matter experts are judging the nominations for the statewide awards. An independent accounting firm will confidentially tally the results. While the nominees and finalists will be announced, award winners will not be known until "the envelope" is opened at the gala.
