Rochester’s Technology Community Celebrates Innovation at the 2026 GREAT Awards

ROCHESTER, NY — The winners have been announced and leaders across the region’s technology ecosystem gathered to celebrate innovation, collaboration, and impact at the 2026 GREAT Awards, TechRochester’s annual recognition of the individuals, teams, and organizations shaping the future of technology in Greater Rochester.

The GREAT Awards, short for Greater Rochester Excellence and Achievements in Technology, highlight the companies, researchers, students, and innovators using technology to transform industries, strengthen the regional economy, and improve lives.

This year’s celebration brought together founders, technologists, executives, researchers, and community leaders for an evening filled with laughter, meaningful connections, and recognition of the people driving Rochester’s growing innovation economy.

The event was organized by the TechRochester GREAT Awards Committee, including Aleksandar Nikolic, Morgan Adams, Greg Kauffman, Holly Barrett, Ian Gauger, and Mary Rombaut, whose efforts helped bring together the region’s technology community to celebrate shared success.

Recognizing the Next Generation of Technology Leaders

The Student Tech Leader Award was presented to Joseph Ferreri, a graduate of the University at Albany and current graduate student at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Ferreri currently serves as a Business Intelligence Analyst at Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), where he has significantly expanded the organization’s data and analytics capabilities through advanced programming, analytics, and applied artificial intelligence.

Among his most notable contributions was supporting the region’s bid for the National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engine STELLAR, which has advanced to become one of 15 national finalists. The initiative represents a major opportunity to strengthen Rochester’s leadership in advanced research and regional economic development.

Technology Driving Impact in the Community

The Tech for Good Award recognized the Pluta Cancer Foundation, an organization dedicated to ensuring that cancer patients never face their treatment journey alone.

Through partnerships with the Wilmot Cancer Institute, the foundation works to remove both financial and physical barriers to care while supporting research and innovative treatments. Its mission centers on caring for patients and families with compassion, improving access to treatment, and supporting wellness throughout the cancer journey.

Celebrating Excellence in Technology Services

The Tech Service Provider Excellence Award was awarded to Entre Computer Services, a Rochester-based technology company that has been delivering IT solutions to businesses since 1984.

Entre provides managed services, cybersecurity solutions, cloud infrastructure support, and strategic staffing, helping organizations adapt to evolving technology needs. Known for its people-first culture and strong community ties, the company has built a reputation as a trusted technology partner for businesses across the region.

A Lifetime of Scientific Innovation

One of the evening’s most significant recognitions was the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Dr. Kenneth Reed, whose career spans more than five decades at the intersection of scientific discovery and entrepreneurial innovation.

After 30 years at Kodak Research Laboratories, Reed continued his work through RIT’s Venture Creations incubator, founding four nanotechnology companies, including Cerion and Zero Valent NanoMetals.

His groundbreaking work focused on controlling the “Goldilocks Size” a 2.5 to 3 nanometer threshold where materials exhibit entirely new physical behaviors. Reed successfully developed a synthesis method enabling industrial-scale production of quantum-sized metal clusters, a challenge that had eluded researchers despite hundreds of thousands of patents attempting similar breakthroughs.

The implications of this innovation extend across multiple industries, including semiconductor assembly, advanced manufacturing, carbon sequestration, water splitting technologies, and even research into neurodegenerative diseases.

With more than 60 patents and recognition as an American Chemical Society Entrepreneur of the Year, Reed’s career represents a legacy of scientific curiosity translated into real-world technological impact.

Entrepreneurs and Innovators Driving the Future

The Tech Rebel Award was presented to Ulrik Soderstrom, founder of Benchmark Labs, a company using advanced weather intelligence to optimize renewable energy and water management.

Benchmark Labs combines grid-level weather data with site-based IoT sensors and proprietary artificial intelligence software to deliver highly localized forecasting. The platform helps energy providers and infrastructure operators optimize renewable energy generation, reduce financial risk, and improve resource management.

The Outstanding Tech Team Award recognized Ben Sebree and the team at three+one, a company focused on liquidity and treasury management solutions for public sector organizations.

The firm provides financial strategy and treasury tools to municipalities, school districts, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations. In 2025, three+one secured its first institutional investment through a majority stake from private equity firm Polaris Growth Fund, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth.

Meanwhile, the Best Tech Startup Award went to Phlotonics Inc., a Rochester-based company developing advanced biosensor technology designed to transform biomanufacturing and drug discovery.

Phlotonics’ platform uses silicon photonics-based real-time biosensors capable of monitoring proteins and small molecules within living systems. The technology enables non-invasive, multiplexed monitoring that could significantly accelerate pharmaceutical research and development.

A Community Built on Innovation

The GREAT Awards continue to serve as a reminder that Rochester’s technology ecosystem is powered by a wide range of contributors, from students and researchers to startups, nonprofits, and established companies.

As the region continues to invest in innovation, research, and entrepreneurship, the individuals and organizations recognized at the 2026 GREAT Awards represent the collaborative spirit driving the next chapter of Rochester’s technology economy.

---

Connected Know will continue tracking leadership moves, capital markets activity, and major developments shaping Rochester and Western New York’s business landscape and national profile.