On November 20, 2025, the Southern Piedmont Technology Council held its annual Innovation Stars Banquet.

Raisha Cobb, Associate Provost for Information Resources and Chief Information Officer at Winston-Salem State University was the Keynote Speaker for the evening and spoke on insights and perspectives to help us navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead in technology and the importance of space and technology within our daily lives.

Throughout the night there were seven Technology Star Awards presented to individuals and organizations within the Southern Piedmont region for going above and beyond through their daily work within the technology industry. Awards and winners included:

The Student Innovator Awards recognized a high school or full-time college student that has shown leadership in technology. The student awardee was New College Institute’s STAGS Robotics Team students

NCI FIRST Robotics Team 1262 has completed its twenty-fourth year of competition. Known as the STAGS (Students Technologically Advancing for Greater Success), the team is comprised of high school students from Bassett High School, Magna Vista High School, Martinsville High School and home school students.

At the Blue Ridge Brawl off-season event, STAGS Team 1262 went undefeated in both the regular rounds and playoffs and earned the Red Banner as the event champion. They allied with
Team 977 (Cometbots) and Team 401 (Copperhead Robotics – C-Team) during alliance selection and worked together, combining strategy and technical execution to secure the title.

Accepting the student innovator award were Mr. Trevor Martin and the STAGS Robotics Team.

The Rising Star Award recognized a young entrepreneur or individual with a new idea or initiative, or a new business that has made a significant impact on our region. This award went to – Rachel Cubbage.

Rachel Cubbage is an exceptional web developer who has made a significant impact on the Southern Piedmont Region by developing numerous websites for small businesses and community
service organizations throughout the region.

Rachel moved to Danville VA in May of 2023 after graduating from Bridgewater College with degrees in Computer Science and Creative Writing. She is a full-stack developer who specializes in web to the benefit of numerous businesses in Southern Virginia. 

The Innovation in Education, Government, or Community Outreach Award was awarded to an organization that developed innovative uses of technology to promote and enhance educational opportunities, governmental excellence, community outreach or displayed innovative use of technology to deliver services, advance their mission, or impact the community. This year’s award was presented to Pittsylvania County Schools Rooftop Solar Project.

In partnership with Sun Tribe, Pittsylvania County Schools (PCS) has launched a multi-phase rooftop solar initiative that combines real-world energy innovation with meaningful learning
opportunities for students.

The project’s first phase included the installation of rooftop solar arrays at all four county high schools, with a second phase now underway to expand the effort to five additional middle and
elementary schools. This initiative not only delivers significant cost savings through clean energy generation but also provides long-term funding for facility improvements such as roof repairs.

Beyond its operational benefits, the solar program doubles as a powerful educational tool. Students gain access to live data on energy production and carbon reduction, using these insights to explore science, technology, engineering, and environmental concepts in the classroom.

Accepting the Innovation in Education, Government, or Community Outreach Award was Dr. Eric Moon.

The Innovation in Entrepreneurship Award was awarded to an entrepreneurial company that demonstrates excellence in technological innovation. This year’s award went to Southside Tech
Services.

Southside Tech Services builds custom applications for local businesses. They are high-quality and well-maintained with easy customer support. Their team recently built an application for a contractor in Danville that is working on a lot of historic renovation projects, and it is going really well.

Before Southside Tech offered these services, businesses went to the Research Triangle for this type
of high-quality custom coding.

Accepting the Innovation in Entrepreneurship Award was Mr. Jacob Cook.

The Small Business Innovation in Technology Award recognized a company that demonstrates excellence in technological innovation. This year’s award went to Aerial Machine and Tool.

Founded in 1926, Aerial relocated to Patrick County in 1988. The company manufactures custom-engineered aviation combat equipment and water survivability solutions, including emergency breathing systems for military personnel and first responders who fly over or operate on the water. In addition to hundreds of technical sewing products, the company manufactures multiple water flotation devices and collars. In July 2025, Aerial announced an expansion to design and construct their Next Generation Breathing Technology Center.

Aerial supplies the Department of Defense and first responder communities around the country with the most innovative and effective custom-engineered solutions capable of withstanding today’s dangerous operating environments. They maintain strong relationships with large government prime contractors and are a vital part of the global supply chain.

Accepting the Small Business Innovation in Technology Award were Ms. Teri Lewis and Ms. Samantha Goad.

The Innovation in Technology Award for a large business recognizes a company that demonstrates excellence in technological innovation. This year’s award recipient went to Microsoft.

Microsoft has significantly contributed to the advancement of agriculture, innovation, and workforce development in Mecklenburg County through several strategic initiatives:

  • Microsoft donated two state-of-the-art greenhouses at the Mecklenburg County Public Middle and High School Complex. These facilities provide students with hands-on experience in plant production.
  • Microsoft initiated a Datacenter Academy in 2018 in Southern Virginia that collaborates with local educational institutions to offer students pathways into the growing cloud computing and IT sectors.
  • In May 2024, Microsoft supported Southside Virginia Community College in launching a Critical Environment Training Lab. This facility trains students in electrical, mechanical, and HVAC
    systems.

Accepting for Microsoft were Ms. Kelly Arnold and Ms. Zaya Priest.

On behalf of the SPTC board and President Hope Haris-Gayles the Chairman’s Award for visionary leadership and outstanding leadership and commitment to our region was presented to – Virginia’s Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials (AM²) Tech Hub.

AM² is a regional initiative uniting Virginia’s advanced materials and additive manufacturing ecosystem — linking world-class research at Virginia Tech with applied innovation and workforce development at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Southern Virginia which hosts the Navy’s Center of Excellence in Additive Manufacturing. By coupling university research strengths with the region’s legacy of precision machining and materials expertise, AM² is positioning Southern Virginia as a national leader in next-generation manufacturing.

AM2 represents the evolution of a traditional industrial base into a future-focused technology cluster. The initiative advances collaboration across the full technology spectrum — from materials discovery and digital design to additive manufacturing processes, testing, and scaled production.

In 2025, AM2 hosted its first regional summit, convening academic researchers, private-sector innovators, and federal agencies to align on technology transition and commercialization priorities. In parallel, a Department of Defense conference was held at the same venue, highlighting the region’s growing national role in defense-related advanced manufacturing and materials science. Through these coordinated events, AM2 is building a shared platform for applied R&D, talent development, and industrial partnerships — turning Southwest and Southern Virginia into a hub for additive and advanced materials innovation.

What distinguishes AM2 is its ecosystem approach. By bridging research universities, applied labs, and industry partners, the initiative accelerates technology transfer from the lab to the factory floor. Its projects leverage the region’s precision machining heritage, expanding it into metal additive manufacturing, advanced composites, and digital production. This integrated framework provides tangible opportunities for local manufacturers, students, and entrepreneurs to participate in the emerging materials economy — strengthening the regional talent pipeline and attracting investment.

AM2 embodies the region’s transition from a legacy manufacturing economy to an innovation-driven technology region. It connects assets across Southside and Southwest Virginia into a cohesive ecosystem capable of supporting defense, aerospace, energy, and transportation applications. The initiative demonstrates that rural regions can lead in cutting-edge technology when research, workforce, and industry align around shared goals. 

The AM2 initiative is more than a program — it’s a catalyst for regional transformation. By combining academic excellence, industrial relevance, and community impact, AM2 exemplifies what it means to be a Regional Technology Star. Its success proves that advanced manufacturing’s future is being built not only in urban centers, but also in collaborative, innovation-minded communities like Southern Virginia.

“AM2 is forging the bridge between legacy craftsmanship and the materials of the future — ensuring that our region not only adapts to the next industrial revolution but helps lead it.”

Accepting the Chairman’s award on behalf of AM2 were Mr. John Provo and Ms. Sarah Lyon-Hill who called representative companies and organizations to the front to join them in accepting the regional award. 

About the Southern Piedmont Technology Council

The Southern Virginia Economic Development Partnership formed the Southern Piedmont Technology Council (SPTC) in 1998. SPTC advocates for the region’s investment in technology. It serves the technology needs of the public and private sector and raises awareness to enable the region to accommodate the changing way of doing business. Visit sptc-va.org for more information.