I think it would be exceptionally hard to build an individual reputation in the tech community in general, props to those who have, but building a reputation in a specific industry and local community is much more achievable for everyone.

In smaller industry niches this can be true for companies more than people. At this point in my career, the fact that I worked at Company X is evidence enough that I can do the job Company Y wants me for, since it's a tight industry they essentially know of the work I was doing, even though it wasn't a groundbreaking novel technology of my own.