Physicians' assistant.

• Author: Duckwall, Jane
• Position: NC100: TECHNOLOGIST OF THE YEAR

Charles Kauffman

Vice president of software engineering

IMAGINESOFTWARE, Charlotte Medical billing software

EMPLOYEES: 115

COMPANY FOUNDED: 2000

NOTABLE: VIRGINIA TECH GRAD OVERSEES

SOFTWARE FOR 15,000 PHYSICIANS

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Charles Kauffman's journey to recognition as a computing leader began as a kid in Reston, Va., where he played with an IBM PCjr. Now he is vice president of software engineering for Charlotte-based ImagincSoftware, which offers technology solutions for hospitals, medical practices and medical billing offices, serving more than 15,000 physicians.

Kauffman, 37, manages the company's engineering department, leading the team responsible for products that help automate health care management and billing. He went to Virginia Tech to study computer science and soon grew interested in ways to use coding to solve business issues. He earned his bachelor's degree in management, science and information technology in 2001, and then did contract work for his parents' software company, which was later sold.

He tried to find a tech job in Charlotte after graduating, but "it was a tough job market at the time," he says. "I did what I could to get to Charlotte. It was the area my girlfriend--now wife--and I had picked as where we wanted to move."

He found a...