New Century Technology Council (NCTC) founded with a mission: “to stimulate and guide the attitudes, priorities, infrastructure and governmental environment of the New Century Region to create the most favorable climate for long term profitability, competitiveness and success of technology-based enterprises, both those already in place and those which such efforts will attract to the Region”.

Ray Pethel serves as NCTC leader.

The inaugural TechNite celebration takes place to highlight achievements in the region.

Bonz Hart serves as the second leader of the New Century Technology Council.

Leon Harris becomes the third leader of the NCTC.

New Century Technology Council launches a mentoring program to match experienced companies to young companies and help entrepreneurs grow. Novozymes volunteers to be a mentor company in the pilot program.

Russ Ellis serves as leader of NCTC.

Jay Foster takes over as the leader of the NCTC.

TechNite 4.0 was hailed as a smashing success with over 400 people in attendance and featuring US Under Secretary of Commerce Phillip J. Bond as guest speaker.

Ken Ferris serves as leader of NCTC.

Robert McDowell, VP of Information Worker Business Value at Microsoft provided the keynote address at TechNite.

Ted Melnik serves as leader of NCTC.

NCTC names Cory B. Donovan as their new Executive Director. Neil Wilkin leads board at NCTC.

TechNite was sponsored by Advance Auto and Aneesh Chopra, Virginia’s Secretary of Technology served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Among those taking home awards was Victor Iannello who received the Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by the County of Roanoke and Michael Fleming of TORC Technologies who received the Rising Star Award and Joe Meredith, Jr., took home the Leadership Award.

NCTC hosts Technology Expo to highlight the growing technology hub in Southwest Virginia. 

At TechNite 2009, Senator Mark R. Warner served as guest speaker while 6 members of the tech community took home awards including Neil Wilkin, Jr., President of Optical Cable Corporation taking home the leadership award.

NCTC reaches 200 members and Mary Miller leads the board.

At TechNite 2010 Interactive Achievement took home the Rising Star Award, Dale Vipperman was honored with the Educator Award, and the Leadership award went to Jay Foster of SoftSolutions Inc. 

NCTC hosts a Fall Membership Gala to honor the members that make their work possible. The event featured some fun photo opportunities, including a Mario backdrop and a classic DeLorean.

The New Century Technology Council announced a name change to Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council at TechNite 2011 on May 12. According to a statement from the board, the name change will “better identify us as an ambassador to our region” and “enhance our position for Internet search results.” 

Marty Muscatello leads the board at RBTC.

TechNite 2012 was held May 10 at Hotel Roanoke to a record-breaking crowd of 460 participants. Minnis Ridenhour took top honors as Leadership Award winner. 

Derek Maggard named RBTC executive director.

William ‘Jamie’ Tyler receives the Innovation Award and Michael P. Drzal wins the Ruby Award at TechNite, while Bonz Hart and Vinod Chachra are inducted into the RBTC Hall of Fame.

Sam English leads board at RBTC.

Ray Pethtel, leader and ambassador for the Roanoke Blacksburg technology community, and Tracey Wilkins, cofounder of TechLab, are inducted into the RBTC Hall of Fame.

TechNite 2014 is covered in VT Magazine.

Leon Harris, president of Keltech, and Mary Miller, president and founder of Interactive Design and Development, Inc, inducted into the RBTC Hall of Fame at TechNite.

Nanci Hardwick leads board at RBTC.

Robert McAden assumes board leadership at RBTC.

TechNite 2016 conferred 6 awards to 6 outstanding individuals and companies. Highlights included keynote speaker Jonathan Hagmaier and the induction of former RBTC president Dr. Joe Meredith into the RBTC Hall of Fame.

RBTC announced the impending launch of RAMP, of which they served as a founding partner alongside the City of Roanoke and Virginia Western Community College.

RBTC announces inaugural RAMP cohort with the intent to accelerate local tech and biotech startups.

Bonz Hart, founder of Meridium, was the keynote speaker for TechNite 2017, held at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. In addition to the 6 annual awards, RBTC TechNite committee added a new award, the Regional Go to Geek, which recognized a person working to connect technology practitioners across the region. The award went to Thomas “T.Weeks” Weeks of Virginia Tech Cyber Range.

Robert McAden named President and CEO of RBTC and Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Network in March 2017. Mr. McAden was part of the RBTC since its inception and served as Treasurer and Board Chair in 2015. Gordie Ziegler leads RBTC board.

TechNite was held in Blacksburg at The Inn at Virginia Tech. Senator Mark R. Warner served as guest speaker. Seven individuals or companies received awards, including Kevin Bloomfield who took home the Leadership Award, Jeff Smith who earned the Regional Connector Award, and Russ Ellis, founder of Common Wealth Growth Group, who was inducted into the RBTC Hall of Fame.

RBTC staff expands to include two new roles: Lindsey Eversole as director of programs and Sarah Phillips as events and membership coordinator. 

Patrick Patterson leads RBTC board. John Philips assumes role as President of RBTC.

TechNite 2019 took place at Hotel Roanoke. Out of 15 nominations, 5 individuals or companies took home awards. Marty Muscatello, President and CEO of Foxguard Solutions Inc, and Ken Ferris, were inducted into the RBTC Hall of Fame.

Valleys Innovation Council (now RBIA), RBTC, and RAMP form a strategic alliance to strengthen tech-focused partnerships even more. The alliance brings funding and resources to the regional ecosystem that drive tech and biotech economic activity. Greg Feldman serves as CEO of the alliance, Kevin Bloomfield leads the RBTC board.

Erin Burcham steps into role as new President of Verge and Executive Director of RBTC.

TechNite welcomed VT alumnus and Tesla product manager Michael Rihani as keynote speaker. Rihani formerly served as a product manager at Apple and co-creator of Koofers. Other highlights included the induction of Doug Juanarena, founder and CEO of three tech startups, into the RBTC Hall of Fame and 6 other awards given to 9 individuals or companies.

TechNite was held at the iconic Taubman Museum of Art with a theme of “Innovation is our Future”. The event was designed to emulate a vibrant and electric feel to mirror the regional excitement driving tech and biotech The event attracted over 300 statewide and regional leaders and Victor Iannello, CEO of Chorda Pharma, was inducted into the RBTC Hall of Fame. 

Taylor Spellman joins RBTC as Associate Director of RBTC. RBTC creates Technology Talent Strategist role to help member companies attract and retain talent.

RBTC launches new networking and event series, Beer & Biotech, to bring together investors, physicians, academics, inventors, startups, and state and regional leaders who are influential in the biotechnology industry. The program serves a key role in elevating health and life science advancements highlights the ways in which biotech is driving economic activity in the region.

TechNite 2023 introduces the Hart of the Entrepreneur Award created to honor the memory of local trailblazing entrepreneur Bonz Hart. The award is given to an outstanding entrepreneur in the region and is accompanied with a $10,000 check to further support the success of the entrepreneur and the future of innovation. The inaugural winner was Martin Angst, co-founder of Rendyr.

Eddie Amos, former Chief Transformation Officer at TORC, is inducted into the RBTC Hall of Fame. Taylor Spellman is elevated to director of RBTC. Amy Ankrum and Jeff Smith join RBIA board as co-chairs.

The theme for TechNite 2024 was “The Elements of Tech.” Keynote was delivered by Rishi Jaitly. The evening included 12 prizes awarded including the induction of Virginia Western Community College President Dr. Robert Sandel into the RBTC Hall of Fame. 

In November, RBTC launched an annual conference to share global knowledge and resources with the ecosystem surrounding emerging technologies. The conference was well received with over 250 in attendance.

Alla Daniel joins the RBTC.