–WIN Technology Announced as 2020 Paragon Economic Impact Award Recipient
WIN Technology has been announced as the 2020 Paragon Award recipient to recognize their positive impact on the economy in Eau Claire County.
WIN Technology’s recent launch of the national live-stream, Perigon System, has proven a solution to so many businesses and non-profits, who have been required to pivot to virtual programming to stay connected with staff and customers.
The Eau Claire Area EDC is proud to present the Paragon Economic Impact Award, sponsored by Royal Credit Union, to a local business that has made an economic impact to our community.   The Paragon Award is an opportunity to celebrate businesses that support and enhance our community through a broad range of economic development activities or initiatives.
Businesses are nominated for the Paragon Award by their peers within the community and each nomination is evaluated based on economic impact. Examples of economic impact included, though not limited to; creation of quality jobs; recent  or current expansion of existing facility; construction of a new facility; substantial investment into capital equipment; commitment to continued education and training of their workforce; innovations in the development of new technologies and products.
“I would like to congratulate WIN Technology for receiving the 2020 Paragon Award” said Brandon Riechers, Royal Credit Union President & CEO.
“WIN Technology, through their hard work to upgrade and expand their vast fiber-optic network, has kept up with and supported the increased demand for internet and mobile bandwidth.  WIN Technology not only invested in improvements, but also offered its powerful webcasting platform, Perigon, to ensure students, communities and business owners don’t lose pace.  Royal Credit Union is proud to sponsor this award and celebrate businesses, like WIN Technology, who are committed to strengthening the economy and quality of life in the Eau Claire area.”
WIN Technology (WIN) started operations in 1999 with one employee with the goal to build a fiber network that would enable communications diversity for their customer base, and expand with an opportunity to make bandwidth commercially available to carriers and businesses.  Today, WIN primarily operates as a bandwidth provider, supplying high speed bandwidth services to large telecommunication providers and enterprise businesses, plus a unique focus on delivering bandwidth to rural areas.
In 2017, the Globe University building in Eau Claire, was purchased and serves as WIN Technology’s headquarters for their 130 employees. WIN has diversified beyond fiber networking to Managed IT Services, Network Management Services, and operates two Data Centers. WIN acquired KRM’s Engage webcasting platform in 2015 which has evolved into today’s Perigon cloud engagement platform.
Given the overwhelming demand for virtual event platforms during the 2020 pandemic, Perigon was in position to fill this local and national need. In February of 2020, Perigon had three customers and by December they had 160 customers using the interactive and dynamic platform. Locally,  WIN has increased its focus on supporting the Chippewa Valley community with use and support of virtual event services by use of Perigon.
“The Paragon Award is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the economic impact that a company makes within our community,” as explained by Luke Hanson, Executive Director of the Eau Claire Area EDC, “ WIN Technology is a great example of how the Chippewa Valley is a great place to grow a business, even during a global pandemic. We are proud of WIN’s business successes and humbled that they continue to call this area home.”
The Paragon Economic Impact Award will be presented to Scott Hoffmann of WIN Technology at the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation Annual Meeting, February 22, 2021.  The Annual Meeting will be held virtually using the Perigon platform, registration can be found here;
https://www.eauclaire-wi.com/annualmeeting2021/
Past winners of the Paragon Award include: Pablo Group, Market & Johnson, Artisan Forge Studios, Action City, Dynamic Fitness & Strength, Jamf Software, and Indianhead Food Distribution. To nominate a business for the 2021 Paragon Award, visit https://www.eauclaire-wi.com/services/paragon-award/