Joe Callahan to receive the Irish American Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2018 Irish Small Business-Big Impact 50 Awards in Philadelphia.

Technology trailblazer Joe Callahan (above) will be crowned as Irish American Entrepreneur of the Year for his pioneering work to solve a dizzying range of problems — including cleansing operating theaters of dangerous bacteria — at the 2018 Irish Small Business-Big Impact 50 Awards in Philadelphia on Friday 18 May.

Hosted by the Irish Echo and the Irish American Business Chamber and Network, the unique awards recognizing business founders from across the US will be addressed by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.

A native of Pennsylvania and proud Irish American, Joe Callahan describes Ciright Systems Inc as "a collective of engineers, creatives, writers and marketers who are passionate about driving business forward using technology and innovation."

Judges in the Irish Small Business-Big Impact 50 Awards singled Ciright out from a competitive field for its groundbreaking work with Ciright Medical and Ciright Digital Media divisions — noting the company's proud boast that it was making 'apps' before the word existed.

Through his Ciright Medical vehicle, Joe Callahan is driving efforts to end deep wound disease caused by harmful bacteria in operating theaters — as he explains in a memorable TedX presentation.

The Irish Small Business-Big Impact 50 — in association with MRP and Údarás na Gaeltachta — will honor the entrepreneurs and business founders who form the very backbone of the American economy.

An Irish Echo online poll allows readers to vote for their favorite Irish American Small Business-Big Impact company from the list of 50 honorees with Fergie's Pub of Philadelphia and FedNet of Washington D.C. currently battling it out for the top spot.

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