Companies, groups get awards for technology innovation

Seattle-based Envision received the award for "business product of the year" last night at the 10th annual Industry Achievement Awards hosted by the WSA trade association.

Seven companies and organizations were honored at the awards event, which recognizes innovation in technology in Washington.

Envision won for its Envision Performance software suite, which helps a company manage its work force and monitor how its employees are performing. The software also allows companies to forecast staffing levels and send training information and videos directly to employee computers.

W3 Data, also based in Seattle, won the "consumer product of the year" award for its WhitePages.com online directory-assistance service. Users can search for contact information for people and businesses, area codes and ZIP codes on the site.

The Cobalt Group, a Seattle company that helps car makers and dealers work together through online-retailing and customer-relationship management programs, won the award for "service provider of the year."

Cobalt's products and services include manufacturer-to-dealer applications, a parts-locating service and online-retailing abilities for dealerships.

Bellingham-based Rivetek's educational partnerships for its employees won the company the "outstanding contribution to the community" award. Rivetek, which provides Internet and network services to businesses, offers its workers educational opportunities aimed at encouraging lifelong learning.

The Washington State Department of Information Services and Washington State Patrol won the "outstanding contribution to digital government" award for creating a Web portal for Amber Alerts. Law enforcement in the state can post information about an abducted child to the portal, online at www.washingtonamberalert.com.

Rendition Networks, a Redmond company acquired by Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Opsware for $30 million in a deal that closed this year, won awards for "most promising new technology" and "most promising new company."

Opsware, chaired by Netscape Communications co-founder Marc Andreessen, makes software for large businesses that automates information-technology operations. Rendition was in the same business but focused more on network devices, such as routers, switches and firewalls.

Kim Peterson: 206-464-2360 or kpeterson@seattletimes.com