CSIA Presents: 2009 Apex Awards

The 2009 Apex Award Winners Are…

Congratulations to the 2009 Apex Award Winners!  These exceptional companies and individuals demonstrate the success, innovation, leadership, and determination that is the core of Colorado’s technology industry.  Colorado is home to more than 5,050 software companies; many people don’t realize how large and successful this industry is in Colorado.  So, our Apex Awards is an evening of recognizing the success stories because there are many in Colorado that need to be honored. 

The 2009 APEX Corporate Winners are:

Titan of Technology – IHS.  IHS was founded in 1959 and is a leading global source of critical information and insight for customers in a broad range of industries. IHS has 3,500 professionals in 22 countries, speaks 42 languages, has a market cap of $3.8 billion, and revenues of more than $844 million. Their customers include 35% of the United States Fortune 1000 and 60% of the Global Fortune 500. Since their IPO in 2005 this Titan of Technology has acquired many companies, 20 of which have been in just over 24 months, expanded operations globally, and all the while kept their world wide headquarters in Colorado. Their leadership team, highlighted by John Oechsle, has created a vision of excellence for their company, and also our entire state. 

Outstanding Tech Company of the Year – Global Technology Recourses, Inc.  (GTRI). GTRI was founded in 1998 and quickly became one of the most respected high-end solution providers and technology consulting firms in the United States. They are a strategic partner to their commercial, federal, non-profit, and educational clients nationwide, delivering end-to-end solutions that address the industry’s most challenging IT infrastructure requirements. GTRI specializes in IT strategy and planning, unified communications (VoIP),  IPv6, wireless, managed services, enterprise infrastructure, and security. The other finalists were MapQuest, Ready Talk and SofTec Solutions, Inc.

Most Innovative Technology Product – LogRhythm.  LogRhythm was chosen because they provide customers with unprecedented visibility into critical “needle in a haystack” information.  This company changed the market with its holistic approach to log and security event management.  The other finalists were Business Controls, Inc. and Catalyst Repository Systems, Inc.

Distinguished Professional Services – Applied Trust Engineering.  Applied Trust Engineering has an innovative approach to helping companies improve the ecology of their IT operations. This company has enjoyed year-over-year growth and exceeded its revenue goals since its inception. The other finalists were Illumen and Statera.

CleanTech Innovation – Sun Microsystems.  Sun Microsystems estimated a $1 million dollar savings in electricity costs and 11,000 metric tons of CO2 per year with its newest energy efficient project. With its new green data center in Broomfield and other initiatives in Colorado, Sun’s leadership in our state has been enormous, especially in the design of eco responsible products that deliver high-performance, sustainable computing. Not only will this company reduce its carbon footprint by 6% in the US, but it also invests nearly $2 billion annually in research and development.

Rookie of the Year – Yieldex, Inc.  Yieldex provides tools that are helping publishers drive more revenue. The management team has a proven track record of success that includes multiple successful start-ups. Additionally, this company has signed well known customers like Martha Stewart Living and Omnimedia.  The other finalists were Pixorial, Inc. and Top School, Inc.

The 2009 APEX Individual Winners are:

Bob Newman Lifetime Achievement – Jon Nordmark, Co-Founder,  eBags and Wambo.  In the late 90s, Jon created Startup BaseCamp to convene entrepreneurs, VCs and professionals to increase tech entrepreneurism in our state.  He has worked with NetLeaders to attract national entrepreneurs to our state, and has represented Colorado’s tech leaders on hundreds of panels, conferences, as well as late-night or early-morning meetings to share his passion and business acumen.  And last year, he also chaired the most successful DEMOgala ever, attracting more than 100 national speakers, 1100 attendees, and injecting energy into an economy at the precisely right time for innovative optimism.

Chief Tech Executive of the Year – Michael Zeisser, SVP of Liberty Media.  Through his leadership at Liberty Media, the e-commerce group of companies has grown substantially and continues to exhibit impressive financial growth.  Liberty Media’s e-commerce group includes well known brands such as ProFlowers, Red Envelope, Backcountry.com and BUYSEASONS.  Leveraging web technologies, Michael has formed collaboration networks across Liberty Media companies and launched a number of executive councils to facilitate knowledge transfer and best practice dissemination.

Top Tech Entrepreneur of the Year – John Tredennick, CEO of Catalyst Repository Systems.  John identified a growing problem in his industry and used technology to solve the issue for his firm.  He then created a company where the products are used by many of the largest organizations in the world, including 5 of the world’s 10 largest companies, 4 of the nation’s 10 largest insurers and 60 of the nation’s 100 largest law firms.

Get IT Done – Joylee Kohler, Director Performance Solutions, Avaya.  Joylee has been quoted in Forbes Magazine, published in the AT&T Technical Journal and has received numerous company awards. Additionally, she has 20 patents with 15 pending.  The other finalists were Sherisse Hawkins, Time Warner Cable, and Diane Sharrock, CH2M Hill. 

Top Tech Teacher – Steven Newell, Director of Science and Technology, Sandburg Elementary.  Steven helped to transform his elementary school from a trailing technology user to an early adopter and leader in meaningful technology integration. He spearheaded numerous projects such as: a pervasive wireless network, a digital video and music production lab, robotics clubs for all 5th graders featuring design, construction, and programming following both waterfall SDLC and agile methods; and a Mars Rover role play project for 4th grade classes.  The other finalists were Kevin Byers, Adams County School District, Chris Moore & Nicolette Vander Velde, East Elementary, and Lindsay Craig, Open World Learning

CSIA Champions of the Year – UB Ciminieri, Director of Public Relations, Fowler Software Design; Vince Collins, Sr. Account Manager, ProtoTest; Amber Gullett, Owner, 6 Degrees of Technology; Ida Lau, Partner, VeriPoint. These four individuals have had great impact on CSIA, invested many hours in committees and projects, and inspired other volunteers and the community to get involved with CSIA and the technology community.  More than 20 highly active volunteers were nominated for this coveted award. 

2009 Corporate Nominees	Learn more about the corporate nominees >>
3t Systems, Inc.	Farnsworth Group, Inc.	Policy Studies, Inc.
5o9 Inc.	Goozmo, LLC	QSE Technologies
Absolute Performance	GTRI	Qwest Communications International Inc.
Allied Motion Technologies	HealthGrades	ReadyTalk
Amadeus Consulting	High Plains Library District	Remarkable Mobile
Applied Trust Engineering, Inc.	HiveLive	RMC Pharmaceutical Solutions, Inc.
ARC Science Simulations	Ignighter	Rocky Mountain Laboratories
Arisant	IHS	Rolta TUSC, Software Center of Excellence
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.	Illumen	Secure Source, Inc.
AWhere, Inc	Innovar Group	Socialthing!
Booyah Networks	Intermap Technologies	SofTec Solutions, Inc.
Boulder Innovation Group, Inc.	IQNavigator	Statera
Brightkite	ITonCommand	Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Business Controls, Inc.	Level 3 Communications	Swiftpage
Catalyst Repository Systems	Liberty Media Corporation	Symplified
CH2M HILL	Lijit	Tensegrity Prosthetics Inc.
Cook Enterprise Corporation	LogRhythm	Top School Inc.
Countermind	MapQuest	TrackVia, Inc.
Data Storage Group, Inc.	MX Logic, Inc.	Translationlinks
DatamanUSA	myDIALS Inc.	tw telecom
Dean Evans & Associates, Inc.	Namaste Solar	Ubisense
Denver Botanic Gardens	National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)	Unity Business Networks
Denver Health Hospital	NetSuite Inc.	Vestas
DigitalGlobe	NewsGator	ViaWest, Inc.
EffectiveUI	PaySimple	Virtela Communications
Ethix Solutions	Perficient Inc.	Wellworks
Evolving Systems	Pixorial, Inc.	Yieldex

2009 Indivdual Nominees	Learn more about the individual nominees >>
Graham Bennett, Gesix Software Inc	Chris Moore, East Elementary
Ellis Blevins, Robert Half Technology	Berry Muhich, KForce
Lisa Breytspraak, Thought Ensemble	King Nelson, King Nelson and Associates
Kevin Byers, Adams County School District	Steven Newell, Sandburg Elementary School
U.B. Ciminieri, Fowler Software Design	Dennis Oddy, Technology Professional
Gerry Coady, Frontier Airlines	John Oechsle, IHS
Vince Collins, ProtoTest	Dan Ogdon, Swiftpage
Neil Cox, Qwest Communications International Inc.	Carrie Olejnik, COMtuity
Lindsay Craig, OpenWorld Learning	Ham Pasupuleti, PluralSoft
Mike Deatly, Jones Lang La Salle	Bob Paulsen, Unity Business Networks
Roy Dimoff, ViaWest	Nancy Phillips, ViaWest
Patty Fitzgerald, Robert Half Technology	Greg Reinacker, NewsGator
Steven Foster, Business Controls	Juan Rodriquez, Governor's Innovation Council
Anthony Franco, EffectiveUI	Kristin Russell, Sun Microsystems
Jim Godsey, GroupSystems	Lance Schiola, Apex Systems
Laura Gordon, PricewaterhouseCoopers	Gina Schreck, Synapse 3Di
Alyssa Guidry, QSE Technologies	Diane Sharrock, CH2M HILL
Amber Gullett, 6 Degrees Technology	Joe Thurman, Innovar Group
Dave Haucke, ISYS Search Software	John Tredennick, Catalyst Repository Systems
Sherisse Hawkins, Time Warner Cable	George Tyler, DataPreserve
Lee Johnston, Sprint	Nicolette Vander Velde, East Elementary
Lori Joy, 32 Solutions	Brian Vogt, Denver Botanic Gardens
Sarah Kiefhaber, Avaya	Jackie Walden, Rally Software
Joylee Kohler, Avaya	Bryan Walsh, Latisys
Sandeep Kulkarni, Qwest Communications International Inc.	Kalyee Wempe, Apex Systems
Ida Lau, VeriPoint	Leroy Williams, Ball Corporation
Danny Lorenzo, NetSuite, Inc	Brad Wiskirchen, ClickBank
Sal Mahbouba, Avaya	Michael Zeisser, Liberty Media Corporation
Ed McVaney, (Original Co-Founder) J.D. Edwards

Podcasts by:  

Listen to podcast from past winners!  These podcasts are perfect conversation starters and ice breakers the night of the big event as well as shed great insight into business solutions.
2008 Chief Tech Executive of the Year Winner John Street, Founder and CEO, MX Logic, shares what it takes to earn this great award, his management philosophy and gives tips to succeed in slower economic times.   2006 Chief Tech Executive of the Year John Oechsle, SVP and CIO, IHS, gives key advice on staying the course through these tough economic times and shares his management philosophy.  2008 Rookie of the Year Winner Rob Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO, EventVue,  discusses the importance of  Web 2.0 and social networking. 2008 Outstanding Technology Company of the Year Winner Roy Dimoff, CEO, ViaWest, talks about the early days of Via West and doing business in Colorado's unique business environment. 2008 Most Innovative Technology Product Winner Matt Steinfort, CEO, Envysion, discusses the importance of resilience and adaptability in the Colorado business community. 2006 Bob Newman Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Scott Burt, President, Integro talks about the many awards lauded on Integro and why such recognition is critical to any business. 2008 Get IT Done Winner Wendy Bohling, SVP & Founder of Magpie Healthcare describes her "Academy Award" experience at last year's Apex Awards. 2008 Top Tech Teacher Winner Kathleen Morten and her students describe how special and proud they felt when she won.