John Neis, managing director of Venture Investors LLC and a member of the Wisconsin Technology Council board of directors, was one of three people honored by Madison magazine through its 2010 “Best of Madison Business” awards. Neis won the Brian D. Howell Award for Excellence in Innovation, named for the magazine’s late editor. As the magazine noted in its January edition, “Neis is widely respected for his skill, his knowledge and his style.” Neis has been honored in the past by Forbes magazine as one of the world’s top 100 dealmakers.