APEX Awards - Colorado Technology Association

Celebrating the best of the best in Colorado tech

The APEX Awards recognize Colorado’s technology excellence, highlighting remarkable leaders and innovators. Since 2001, CTA has hosted this prestigious event to bring together the community and celebrate the exceptional people, companies and accomplishments of the year. Join us in January as we recognize the best of the best in Colorado tech! Want a closer look at the APEX Awards, check out photos from the 2019 APEX Awards, including on the Red Carpet.

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REGISTRATION CLOSED

January 2021

Specific Date + Location TBA

2019 APEX Awards Press

DBJ: Bob Newman Lifetime Achievement

DBJ: Colorado Entrepreneur Excellence

DBJ: Advocate of the Year

DBJ: CIO of the Year

DBJ: Company of the Year

DBJ: Talent Champion of the Year

DBJ: CISO of the Year

DBJ: Emerging Tech Company of the Year

DBJ: Emerging Leader of the Year

DBJ: CEO of the Year

DBJ: Project of the Year

DBJ: Youth Tech Leader of the Year

AWARDS

Advocate of the Year

This individual is advancing the technology industry in Colorado through their leadership in moving forward policies and ideas that ensure our state’s status as a prominent tech hub.
2019 Winner – Mayor Michael B. Hancock, City & County of Denver
Past Recipients

2018 – State Senator Jack Tate
2017 – State Representative Tracy Kraft-Tharp
2016 – Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers
2015 – State Sen. Rollie Heath and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet
2014 – Representative Dan Pabon and Paul Washington, Denver OED
2013 – Rep. Angela Williams and Sen. Mark Scheffel
2011 – Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, House Majority Leader Amy Stephens, Representative Carole Murray, Senator Cheri Jahn and Senator Linda Newell
2010 – Representative Mike May, Senator Josh Penry and the Republican Caucus
2005 – Brian Vogt, OEDIT
2019 Nominees

Not Listed

CEO of the Year

This creative, innovative and determined founder or CEO leads a Colorado-based tech company. In addition to the daily role of leading their company, they work to drive the vibrancy of the tech economy beyond their business.
2019 Winner – Brandon Ridenour, ANGI Homeservices
Past Recipients

2018 – Brock Berry, AdCellerant
2017 – Shawn Mills, Green House Data
2016 – Annette Quintana, Istonish
2015 – Dave Wright, SolidFire
2019 Nominees

Don Haddad, St. Vrain Valley Schools
John Street, Pax8
Brandon Ridenour, ANGI Homeservices
Bill Fathers, Cologix
Bryan Leach, Ibotta
Dennis Robinson, XTIVIA
Jim Johnson, Mobile Solutions

CISO of the Year

This innovative Chief Information Security Officer has implemented a security program that accelerated the success of her/his Colorado-based business. Utilizing people, processes and technologies, this security leader has positioned the security program to deliver on the core mission of the organization.
2019 Winner – James Carder, LogRhythm
Past Recipients

2018 – Robb Reck, Ping Identity
2017 – Matt Shufeldt, Cognizant
2019 Nominees

Alex Wood, Pulte Group
Deborah Blyth, State of Colorado
James Carder, LogRhythm

Company of the Year

This Colorado-based company’s overall performance sets it apart as a leader through technical innovation and concrete examples of how it is meeting a need in the marketplace. This company also is a strong leader in the community and shows corporate responsibility.
2019 Winner – CableLabs
Past Recipients

2018 – HomeAdvisor
2017 – SendGrid
2016 – ViaWest
2015 – SpotX
2014 – LogRhythm
2013 – Ping Identity
2012 – Mercury
2011 – Rivet Software
2010 – ServiceMagic
2009 – GTRI
2007 – Webroot
2006 – Webroot
2005 – Webroot
2004 – eCollege
2003 – FRxSoftware
2002 – DataTrend Information Systems
2019 Nominees

Cherwell Software
Ibotta
CableLabs
Techtonic
H5 Data Centers
Swiftpage
Gorilla Logic
Platte River Networks
Mobile Solutions
HomeSphere
LogRhythm
NexusTek

Emerging Tech Company of the Year

This is Colorado’s most promising emerging company in operation for five years or less. They are innovative and identified a need in the marketplace for the product or service.
2019 Winner – Bluestaq
Past Recipients

2018 – Pax8
2017 – PAIRIN
2016 – Couragion
2015 – BluFlux
2014 – GeoPoll
2013 – Cloud Elements
2019 Nominees

SunTech Drive, LLC
ManagedMethods
Bluestaq LLC
Proximity
SYMMETRIX Solutions
QwipIt Inc
Platte River Networks
Rule4
Visible
Optiv Security

Talent Champion of the Year

This individual builds and strengthens the technology talent pipeline by leading and supporting initiatives to construct and ensure a strong, diverse local pipeline of tech workers in the state.
2019 Winner – Alan Buller, FEDC TechSTART
Past Recipients

2018 – Heather Terenzio, Techtonic Group
2017 – Global MindED
2016 – CareerWise Colorado
2015 – Blind Institute of Technology
2019 Nominees

Kyle Coberly, Flatiron School
Kylee Eikenberg, Slalom Consulting, LLC
Alan Buller, FEDC TechSTART
Kevin Pennock, Frontier Airlines

Bob Newman Lifetime Achievement

This individual has made outstanding achievements and commitments to furthering innovative technology in our community and the state and has contributed to the initiatives of Colorado Technology Association.
2019 Winner – Rich Liner, KidsTek
Past Recipients

2018 – Kristin Russell, Arrow Electronics
2017 – Andre Durand, Ping Identity
2016 – Lucy Sanders, NCWIT
2015 – Steve Halstedt
2014 – J.B. Holston, Sitrion
2013 – Dan Caruso, Zayo Group
2012 – Nancy Sauer
2011 – John Oechsle, DigitalGlobe
2010 – Nancy Phillips, ViaWest
2009 – Jon Nordmark, eBags and Wambo
2008 – Brad Feld, Foundry Group
2007 – Barbara Bauer, GlobalSight Partners
2006 – Scott Burt, Integro
2005 – Bob Ogdon, Swiftpage
2004 – Donna Auguste, Leave A Little Room Foundation
2003 – Wayne Berger, Solano Foundation
2002 – Donald J. McCubbery, University of Denver
2001 – Bob Newman, JD Edwards
2019 Nominees

Not Listed

CIO of the Year

This outstanding Chief Information Officer has demonstrated considerable ingenuity in leading an IT team and implementing technology projects that demonstrably improve the effectiveness of their organization.
2019 Winner – Sandi Mays, Zayo
Past Recipients

2018 – Suma Nallapati, Governor’s Office of Information Technology
2017 – Jeff Robertson, DigitalGlobe
2016 – Vin Melvin, Arrow Electronics
2015 – John Swieringa, CIO of the Year
2014 – Dave Anderson, CH2M Hill
2019 Nominees

Not Listed

Colorado Entrepreneur Excellence

This entrepreneurial leader has contributed to multiple businesses, with at least one as a tech company started, grown and operated in Colorado. They have a true passion to seek out problems to solve, and they organize, manage and assume the risk of a business or enterprise.
2019 Winner – Trent R. Hein, Rule4
Past Recipients

2018 – Sudha Chandrasekharan, Learn-Skillz
2017 – Elia Wallen, Traveler’s Haven & Hotel Engine
2016 – Page Tucker, ProStar Geocorp
2014 – Jeremy Ostermiller, Altitutde Digital
2013 – Peter Hudson, iTriage LLC
2012 – Bart Lorang, FullContact
2011 – Bob Ogdon, Swiftpage
2010 – Roy Dimoff, ViaWest
2009 – John Tredennick, Catalyst Repository Systems
2019 Nominees

Trent R. Hein, Rule4
Tim O’Shea, Engage Colorado

Emerging Leader of the Year

This Emerging Leader has demonstrated a commitment to the Colorado tech industry by showing passion for technology and making significant contributions to their organization or the industry overall. They excel at their role and actively seek opportunities to grow professionally and personally. This individual shows great potential to grow in their area of expertise and as a leader in the tech community.
2019 Winner – Jamie Cohen, ANGI Homeservices
Past Recipients

2018 – Samuel Thomas Elliot, Amnet
2019 Nominees

Josh Couper, Flatiron School
Kristi Brin, Newmont Goldcorp, Inc.
Jamie Cohen, ANGI Homeservices
Amber Hollenbeck, Mobile Solutions
Dani Fitch, Arrow Electronics
Luis Canepari, Newmont Goldcorp
Noah Kaplin, Governor’s Office of Information Technology

Project of the Year

This project, implemented by an innovative IT department, solved a business problem with strategic objectives and innovation and overcame obstacles, met goals and demonstrated team collaboration.
2019 Winner – St. Vrain Valley Schools
Past Recipients

2018 – Levels Beyond
2017 – Braxton Technologies
2016 – Arrow Electronics & Indiegogo Certification Program
2015 – DigitalGlobe
2014 – GoCode Colorado, Colorado Secretary of State’s Office
2013 – Governor’s Office of Information Technology
2012 – Pixorial
2011 – PEI
2010 – Lincoln Trust Company
2019 Nominees

Children’s Hospital Colorado
DCP MIdstream
St. Vrain Valley Schools
HSS, Inc
Mobile Solutions
Governor’s Office of Information Technology
Pulte Mortgage

Youth Tech Leader of the Year

This Colorado student leverages tech through a club or community group to advance tech education and innovation in unique and impactful ways for fellow students, his or her school and the local community.
2019 Winner – Nicole Chen
Past Recipients

2018 – Shreya Nallapati
2019 Nominees

Emma Goodwill, University of Colorado Boulder – Fall 2019
Makenna Turner, Peak to Peak Charter School
Nicole Chen, Cherry Creek High School
Lauren Barnes, University of Denver
Lucy Kiefer, St Mary’s Academy

NOMINATION FAQS

What is the judging process?

Leaders within the community are selected to serve as judges for their knowledge of the community and their ability to be unbiased to nominees. Nominations are given to them to review individually, where they score each on several criteria, then they all convene to make final decisions on finalists and winners. CTA brings these judges together, but does not make any decisions on winners.
Who are the judges and how are they selected?

Judges are key thought leaders in the Colorado technology community who have expertise related to the categories they are judging.
Do nominees need to be headquartered in Colorado?

APEX is designed to recognize and promote the Colorado technology industry. To be eligible for Company of the Year and Emerging Tech Company of the Year, the company needs to be headquartered in Colorado.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 SPONSORS

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact Jason Delp at 303-592-4070 or jason@coloradotechnology.org.