RALEIGH, N.C.–The North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) has announced that John P. McConnell has been named the 2012 Outstanding Achievement Award winner at the NCTA 21 Awards Gala, being held on November 8. NCTA will recognize excellence in the tech sector in 21 categories. The Outstanding Achievement Award honors an individual who has made a substantial contribution to the advancement of the technology industry throughout their career. McConnell has been the recipient of numerous growth and industry awards including being recognized as one the top CEOs in the nation for stock price appreciation. He co-founded Medic Computer Systems in 1982 and served as its Chairman and CEO for 16 years.. McConnell led Medic through its initial public offering and its sale to Misys for $923 million in 1997.

In 1998, McConnell became CEO and Chairman of A4 Health Systems, which provided electronic medical records to physicians and hospitals. He led the company until its purchase by Allscripts (Nasdaq: MDRX) for $304 million in 2006.

McConnell has been an active board member for both corporate and non-profit organizations including Allscripts, Blackbaud Inc. (Nasdaq: BLKB), MED3000, WakeMed Foundation, and The Gillings Global College of Public Health at UNC.

“John’s career has focused on bringing technology into the healthcare market. His achievements have greatly contributed to the growth of technology in our state,” said Brooks Raiford, NCTA’s president and CEO.

McConnell will be on hand to accept the award at the NCTA 21 Awards Gala on November 8 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Durham, N.C. In addition, NCTA will present two additional individual awards, honoring former N.C. Senator Richard Stevens, who is being presented with NCTA’s 2012 Public Leadership Award, and to the Tech Executive of the Year, to be determined by a People’s Choice format through an online poll and announced live at the gala.

Early bird pricing for gala tickets ends Thursday, October 25. For more information, visit www.NCTA21Awards.com.

Exclusive sponsors for the NCTA 21 Awards include Grant Thornton, DataChambers, EMC, Cherry Bekaert & Holland, Accenture, Duke Energy, Balfour Beatty Mission Critical, Alphanumeric Systems, BB&T Insurance Services, Brooks Pierce, Cisco, Credit Suisse, DukeNet Communications, Peak 10, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Resolvit, SAS, Smith Anderson, Time Warner Cable Business Class, Vaco, Varrow, Wyrick Robbins, Beacon Technologies, Business North Carolina, Business Wire, Crossroads PR, Google, Lenovo, Triangle Business Journal, New Horizons, OpenGambit Technologies, Keiger Graphic Communications, Creative Visions

About NCTA

The North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) is a not-for-profit, membership-driven trade association and the primary voice of the technology industry in North Carolina. NCTA is the intersection of leadership and technology, fueling the growth of North Carolina through Executive Engagement, Public Affairs, and a Knowledge Workforce. For more information, visit our website at www.nctechnology.org.