PROBLEM SOLVERS.

• Author: Kinney, Ben

We are excited to share a new feature with you in this issue. BNC partnered with technology advocacy association NC TECH to launch the Next Tech Awards to showcase and celebrate North Carolina's rising tech stars. Next Tech Awards honors a selection of individuals who are critical and exceptional performers helping to grow our states tech and tech-enabled companies and organizations. The focus is on those who are c-suite executives and often aren't recognized publicly. Individual winners, who are profiled on pages 52-59, will be celebrated during a reception on June 12 at the Raleigh Convention Center.

The awards honor contributors who go the extra mile, build products, increase revenue, support operations and manage projects that propel businesses forward. What these individuals share in common is their exceptional business impacts, positive energy and attitude, and community engagement.

I was fortunate to be one of the judges, which was no easy task. There are many great folks working in our state's technology industry. The fact that these people don't get as much attention as others makes the project unique.

My colleague, Kevin Ellis, edited the list and profiles. Here are his thoughts:

Just from where they went to school or their backgrounds, you could tell these...