Penumbra Inc. and St. George Spirits won Awards at last week’s first annual East Bay Innovation Awards Ceremony. Adam Elsesser, CEO and Founder of Penumbra, accepted the Life Science Award. Penumbra is a medical device manufacturer, specializing in products that help patients suffering from strokes and vascular diseases. Lance Winters, owner and master distiller of St. George Spirits, accepted the Food Award. St. George Spirits has been on the vanguard of the East Bay’s food movement, by distilling such artisan spirits as absinthe, botanivore gin, and pear eau de vie.
The East Bay Economic Development Alliance and the San Francisco Business Times announced the winners at a gala event held at the Fox Theater in Oakland on January 31, 2013. The awards honor companies that contribute to the East Bay's culture of innovation in nine different categories.
Two other Alameda-based companies were recognized. Deep Ocean Exploration and Research (DOER) was a finalist for the Engineering & Design Award. Perforce Software was a finalist for the Communications Technology category. In all, four of the 16 East Bay companies spotlighted at the event are from Alameda.
“It was a great evening for Alameda firms,” said Vice Mayor Marilyn Ezzy-Ashcraft, who attended the event with Councilmember Lena Tam. “We are very proud of these companies for being acknowledged as pioneers and leaders in their industries. It is exciting to see them get the recognition they deserve.”
