PHILADELPHIA, March 14, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Four companies and one individual were honored recently for their extraordinary achievements at the 9th Annual Ben Franklin Emerging Business Awards, affectionately known as The Bennies. The accomplishments of Easy Walking Inc., Supply Marketing, Faithful Companion, BioRexis Pharmaceutical Corp., and Geri Swift of the Women's Business Development Center were all celebrated at the event held on March 6.
The Bennies were founded in 1994 by The Entrepreneurs' Forum of Greater Philadelphia and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA to promote area companies in recognition of their breakthrough technologies, product innovations and management excellence. Each winner received a $1,000 cash prize. This year's Bennies event also included special recognition of the founding organizations' 20th anniversary.
The winners of the 2003 Ben Franklin Emerging Business Awards are:
-- Easy Walking Inc. is commercializing Up n' Go, a durable medical
product that revolutionizes the functions currently provided by
partial weight-bearing devices used for physical therapy. Most
Innovative Product Award
-- Supply Marketing creates and maintains brand awareness in
physicians' offices by providing free disposable products with
printed branded content, including table covers, dental bibs,
pillowcases, gowns, and surgical caps. Most Innovative Service
Award
-- Faithful Companion offers pet owner's indemnity style health
insurance to reimburse them for veterinary health expenses. Best
Management Team
-- The Biotech Company of the Year was presented to BioRexis
Pharmaceutical Corp., an outstanding regional life sciences
enterprise that develops and produces novel biopharmaceuticals
with superior pharmacology by using highly efficient manufacturing
to deploy an entirely new and different approach to existing
protein fusion technologies.
-- The Iris Newman Award, named in honor of the co-founder of the
Women's Investment Network, was presented to Geri Swift, Founder
and CEO, Women's Business Development Center, in recognition of
her support for and work with women-owned and women-led
businesses.
The Entrepreneurs' Forum of Greater Philadelphia, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Reed Smith LLP, S.R.One, Limited, Salveson Stetson Group, and Innovation Philadelphia sponsored the 2003 Ben Franklin Emerging Business Awards.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) is dedicated to growing the region through science, technology and entrepreneurship. Now commemorating 20 years of innovation excellence, Ben Franklin provides entrepreneurs and established businesses the capital, talent, and expertise they need to compete. Like its namesake, Ben Franklin invests in, builds upon and delivers solutions that grow communities and create new wealth by supporting today's technological ideas and tomorrow's scientific discovery.