Keith McIntosh, the Co-CEO and President of Fredericton-based PQA Testing, was named Industry Champion and captured the People’s Choice Award at the annual Kira Awards banquet last night.
The Kiras – or Knowledge Industry Recognition Awards -- are presented annually to members of New Brunswick’s knowledge industry in recognition of excellence in developing a knowledge-based economy in the province.
McIntosh established PQA Testing in 1997 to provide independent and unbiased quality assurance software testing. The award-winning company now employs more than 100 professionals and has built long standing relationships in such sectors as healthcare, finance, gaming, telecommunications, government, and eLearning.
The other Kira winners are:
Most Promising Startup – Eigen Innovations, Fredericton, which uses an internet of things application to help manufacturers improve production efficiency and reduce waste.
Most Innovative Product – Mycodev Group, Fredericton, which has developed a new method of producing high-quality chitosan, which has numerous commercial applications in such fields as pharmaceuticals, medical devices and other life sciences.
Premier’s Innovation Award, Private Sector – Malley Industries Inc., Dieppe, which manufactures ambulances, wheelchair accessible vehicles, specialized commercial fleets and plastic products for a wide range of industrial clients.
Premier’s Innovation Award, Public Sector – The Horizon Health Network, whose Telestroke helps emergency rooms without specialists to connect with neurologists off-site, saving precious time and improving treatment results.
Economic Impact -- Groupe Savoie, St-Quentin, which is a vertically integrated producer of hardwood products, including pallets and pallet components, cabinet and furniture components, hardwood lumber, tone wood components, ecological fuels and wood chips.