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Celebrating Oregon’s Tech Leaders at the 2025 TAO Individual Awards

On behalf of TAO, thank you to everyone who joined us at the 2025 TAO Individual Awards Ceremony on September 22nd, held at the Benson Hotel. It was an inspiring evening celebrating the outstanding leaders who continue to shape, strengthen, and uplift Oregon’s tech community.

Each year, these awards recognize individuals who embody innovation, collaboration, and impact across our industry. A special congratulations to this year’s honorees — your contributions are truly remarkable:

Sam Blackman Award RecipientSean McClain, CEO and Founder, Absci
Lifetime Achievement Award RecipientLes Fahey, Fahey Ventures LLC
Tech Champion Award RecipientsOregon Business Council (OBC): Duncan Wyse, President; Andrew Desmond, Director of Economic Development Policy; and Kyle Ritchey-Noll, Director of Education and Workforce Policy

We were also honored to have Nathan Christensen, our 2024 Sam Blackman Award recipient, serve as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

A heartfelt thank-you to our sponsors, partners, and community members who helped make this celebration possible. Together, we’re continuing to build and strengthen the future of technology in Oregon.

Link to Photos

Congratulations! 

Anthro-Tech Earns Woman-Owned Small Business Certification

Anthro-Tech is proud to announce its certification as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), verified by the U.S. Small Business Administration. This milestone recognizes 27 years of dedication to a simple but powerful mission: designing solutions that improve people’s lives and the organizations that serve them.

Founded in 1997 by CEO Suzanne Boyd, Anthro-Tech has always been guided by one belief — good design starts with understanding people first. That human-centered approach has shaped decades of work with government agencies, nonprofits, and companies to create accessible, intuitive, and effective services and products.

“I started Anthro-Tech with the belief that good design begins by understanding people first,” says Boyd. “Whether it’s technology, products, or programs, including people in every step of the journey leads to better outcomes.”

This certification positions Anthro-Tech to expand further into the federal marketplace, partnering with agencies and prime contractors to deliver measurable impact through:

  • User research and usability testing

  • Information architecture and content strategy

  • Accessibility auditing and WCAG/Section 508 compliance

  • UX/UI and service design

  • Training and capacity-building

Human-centered design not only improves user experiences—it drives real results: streamlined services, cost savings, higher adoption rates, and greater accessibility and trust.

As Anthro-Tech looks ahead, the WOSB certification marks both a celebration and a catalyst. By 2035, the company aims to partner with 1,000 changemakers working to improve lives worldwide.

Learn more: Visit the U.S. Small Business Administration website to view Anthro-Tech’s official certification.

 

Silicon Forest Tech Trends Survey 2026

Every year ProFocus Technology gathers insights from experienced tech leaders & technologists in the Pacific Northwest that help shape their annual Silicon Forest Tech Trends Report - a free resource for our local tech and business community that will be distributed for 2026 this January. The survey is open now through the end of the month. We value your voice and insight and want it in this annual report – so thank you in advance for participating. The survey will take ~10 minutes and be sure to leave your email at the end of the survey to be entered into a raffle which will have several winners chosen.
Survey

Edge Collective

TAO member Edge Collective is helping small business leaders build confident strategies for the year ahead. Their upcoming 6-Week Strategy Program blends group learning and one-on-one expert coaching to help participants define their 2026 roadmap—without the hefty consulting fees.

Over six weeks, participants will:

  • Define their growth vision and measurable targets
  • Build a practical, focused strategic plan
  • Receive personalized coaching to activate their goals

This guided program offers the same proven frameworks used in high-end consulting engagements—for just $2,150. During the registration process - if you mention you are a TAO member in the ‘message spot’ - you will qualify for a 10% discount.  The next cohort begins November 5, and seats are limited.

REGISTER HERE

 

Get Involved

Welcome New & Renewing Members!

We're excited to welcome the newest members of our community and extend a big thank you to those who have renewed their commitment! Your continued support helps us grow, connect, and drive innovation together.

Learn More

SkyMiles for Business: Miles That Work for You

Earn miles for your company and your travelers.

Introducing SkyMiles for Business — Delta’s elevated loyalty program designed for small and medium-sized enterprises. Your business earns miles that never expire, while your employees continue to earn as individual SkyMiles Members. Plus, you’ll enjoy access to a dedicated Service Center for priority support on all your company’s travel needs.

Innovative Benefits for Tech Companies

As a valued member of the tech industry, your company will receive an automatic upgrade to Plus Status — no waiting, no extra steps.

Membership Tiers

  • Member: Open to U.S. & Canada small and medium enterprises

  • Plus: 5+ business travelers & $5,000 annual spend

  • Elite: 5+ business travelers & $300,000 annual spend

Program Highlights

  • Earn miles for both your company and individual travelers

  • Use miles for travel, eCredits, or exclusive rewards

  • Transfer miles to reward employees or offset expenses

  • Enjoy priority servicing and earn 15% bonus miles with Plus status

  • Manage everything easily through user-friendly administrative tools

At TAO, we’re proud to partner with Delta Air Lines, a company that shares our commitment to innovation, excellence, and delivering value to our teams and clients. Together, we’re helping our travelers go further — with every mile.

Learn More

October 15th
Northwest AI Summit


October 15 - 16th
Mayfield Renewables Education Summit


October 16 - 17th
Bend Venture Conference


October 23 - 25th
Artificiality Summit


October 29 - 30th
Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference


November 6th
Hacking Agents


November 19th
Wespay’s Payment Experts Virtual Workshop

 

Many Dates

SAIF Complimentary Webinars

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Looking for tech talent or your next opportunity?


Check out the Technology Association of Oregon Job Board! It’s completely free to use and connects employers and job seekers across Oregon’s thriving tech ecosystem. Whether you’re hiring or job hunting, it’s a great way to tap into a focused, engaged community of professionals in the region.

Post a job or browse opportunities today

HERE

 

              

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