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Each year, the RiverLink board of directors recognizes businesses within the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay that through their daily operations are helping to fulfill the vision of the Dykeman Plan and are making the river a destination for working, living and playing. This year we are proud to recognize AvL Technologies, a high tech locally grown, small business with worldwide distribution and sales that provides high paying jobs in the middle of the river arts district.
RiverLink executive director, Karen Cragnolin said, "The greenways and parks along the river will continue to attract businesses like AvL Technologies as well as artists and others to what is fast becoming a campus like setting. The riverfront offers restaurants, living spaces, more and more recreational opportunities and with the greenway an opportunity to exercise close to where you work, live and play. That is a very inviting combination of amenities no matter what your business, even if you are retired. " AvL Technologies, Inc., located in the River District of Asheville, NC, is a privately-owned, high-tech satellite communications company employing 120 people. "On the River" at 130 Roberts Street since 2000, AvL designs, engineers, markets, sells, manufactures and provides customer service on transportable 2-way broadcast antennas that provide satellite news gathering (SNG) and satellite communications from remote locations. The antennas are heavily used by the television networks and stations world-wide, the US military, government agencies throughout the world, and in the USA by entities such as the American Red Cross, NATO, the White House Communications, Special Forces, FEMA, National Forest Service, and various municipal emergency services agencies (police, fire and rescue, and medical.) AvL pioneered the creation of lower cost satellite terminals that did not require highly-trained satellite communication experts to use and see the use of their products spreading into commercial applications like video conferencing, distance learning, and technical data transfer from remote locations. AvL has produced jobs that well-exceed the average per annum compensation for salaried workers in Asheville and average over $35,000 yearly for non-exempt. Last year over $20 million was spent in the local area purchasing goods and services including commissions and acquisitions from local artists and galleries. Proud to be from Asheville, AvL communicates that feeling in its name, website and collateral material to customers by using WNC landscapes to showcase its products. Founder and CEO Jim Oliver is an Atlanta, Georgia native with degrees from Georgia Tech and Stanford University. Oliver retired to Asheville in 1989 after a successful career in engineering and management at Lockheed Missiles and Space, Scientific-Atlanta, and as founder/owner of SatCom Technologies, which sold to RSI in 1985 and now a division of General Dynamics. AvL is active with RiverLink as an Adopt-A-Stream sponsor, as well as other community based organizations. Past recipients of RiverLink's RiverBusiness Awards include: The Wedge Gallery, The Phil Mechanic Building and Flood Gallery, 12 Bones BBQ and the Clingman Avenue Café. RiverLink offers three award programs throughout the year. Critical Link Award winners are non-board member volunteers who go above and beyond to help implement RiverLink's mission, RiverSmart Awards are given to governments, businesses and individuals who in their daily practices help improve the water quality of the French Broad River and RiverBuisness Awards are given to businesses in the riverfront who are helping to make the river a destination for living, working and playing. For more information about how you can become involved with RiverLink visit our webpage at www.riverlink.org or email us at information@riverlink.or or call us at 828-252-8474, ext 110. (Image provided by Riverlink.)
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