Nancy Knowlton, David Martin awarded Meritorious Service Medals (Civil Division)
Calgary — Nureva Inc., an innovator in advanced audio conferencing solutions, announces that its founders, Nancy Knowlton and David Martin, have each been awarded a prestigious Meritorious Service Medal. As part of the Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division), the medals were awarded to the couple for their exceptional contributions to improving educational opportunities for young people in Canada and abroad. Presented by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, the Meritorious Service Decorations recognize remarkable Canadians for their extraordinary accomplishments and contributions that bring honor to Canada — from advocacy initiatives and health care services to research and humanitarian efforts. Nancy and David were recognized at a ceremony on March 21, 2024, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, where 56 Meritorious Service Medals and 8 Meritorious Service Crosses were presented.
Encouraging excellence is at the core of every governor general’s mandate and the Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division) are among the highest Canadian distinctions that can be awarded. Tech visionaries and married team Nancy and David have a substantial track record in the audiovisual and IT arena spanning over 30 years. David, Nureva’s chief technology officer, is driven by a deep understanding of technology trends and how technology solutions can make life better in business. Nancy, Nureva’s chief executive officer, is regarded as a global expert on technology adoption in education. Both David and Nancy are acknowledged for their curiosity and championing of learning over many decades. They have always been passionate about the value of education and its role in changing lives and creating a better world. That passion is evident in the SMART Board® interactive whiteboards that have transformed millions of classrooms worldwide and touched tens of millions of young lives during the couple’s 25 years at the helm of SMART Technologies.
In contrast to their founding of SMART Technologies, which was based on their idea for the world’s first and most popular interactive whiteboard and interactive display, Nancy and David founded Nureva in 2014 with the belief that assembling a high-caliber team was the most important prerequisite for success. The company now employs a team of 160 people, all of whom bring a passion for solving customer problems and a commitment to the fresh thinking and simplicity that is built into every Nureva® audio solution. Nureva has more than 40 patents in the United States and internationally for its revolutionary Microphone Mist™ technology, which is shaking up the global audio conferencing market.
“Dave and I are honored to receive this distinction and be included in the company of so many distinguished Canadians who have made such important contributions to the country and the world,” said Nancy. “It has been our absolute pleasure to play a part in serving the needs of educators globally over the past 30 years.”