Chattanooga State’s William (Bill) Crum and Savitha Pinnepalli were recognized as finalists during yesterday’s inaugural Technology Excellence Awards- TechX, hosted virtually by ChaTech, the Chattanooga Technology Council. Viewed by more than 200 attendees, the awards covered 10 categories with a total of 70 nominations among 33 companies.

“ChaTech is so proud to launch the Chattanooga Technology Excellence Awards, or TechX.  We’re thrilled to honor those professionals whose leadership, creativity, innovation, and perseverance have made a difference for their colleagues, their companies, and our community,” states Carla Askonas, ChaTech executive director.

As a finalist for Software Developer of the Year, Bill Crum has been with Chattanooga State since 2007 and serves as director of Web Application Technology. This category celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of software development.

Savitha Pinnepalli, department head and assistant professor of Computer Information Technology was named a finalist for Unsung Hero of the Year, which distinguishes nominees as unheralded technology superstars. Pinnepalli has been with Chattanooga State since 2017.

“While they did not win in their respective categories, we are so proud of the contributions that Bill and Savitha continue to make at Chattanooga State and within our community,” comments Dr. Rebecca Ashford, Chattanooga State president.

ChaTech’s mission is to connect the regional technology community to help drive economic growth across the region. Members are connected through professional education programs, social events, outreach initiatives, peer group forums, and networking opportunities.