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2025 Colorado Tech Summit + APEX Awards

Colorado Technology Association’s Colorado Tech Summit + APEX Awards is part technology conference, part celebration of the best in Colorado tech. The event includes powerful keynotes, dynamic panels, and interactive company technology and showcase – followed by a celebration of the people and companies driving the Colorado tech industry forward with the announcement of that year’s APEX Award winners.

At this year’s event we’ll release our 2024 Colorado Tech Industry Report – this report explores the Colorado tech industry’s economic and workforce impact, as well as that of the state’s innovation infrastructure. The report, a follow up to our 2022 Colorado Tech Industry Report, is an important tool highlighting the impact that the tech industry has on Colorado’s economy and the ways we can continue to support its growth in our state.

As part of our release of the 2024 Colorado Tech Industry Report, we’ll host a panel discussion featuring leaders in Colorado tech and business. They’ll share their reactions to the report’s findings as well as the trends they’re witnessing as leaders in the industry.

Nominations open Tuesday, October 8th! 

REGISTRATION COMING SOON

2025 Colorado Tech Summit + APEX Awards

Thursday, February 20, 2025 

Grand Hyatt Denver
1750 Welton St, Denver, CO 80202

APEX AWARDS CATEGORIES

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.

  • Past Recipients

    2024- Eve Lieberman, OEDIT
    2023- Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Colorado Workforce Development Council
    2022 – Scott Laband, President, Colorado Succeeds
    2020- Anthony Neal-Graves, CIO & ED, Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology
    2019 – Mayor Michael B. Hancock, City & County of Denver
    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

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.

  • Past Recipients

    2024- Anthony Neal Graves
    2023 – Betty Arkell
    2022 – Sandi Mays
    2020- Barbara Mowry
    2019 – Rich Liner, KidsTek
    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

CEO of the Year

  • These creative, innovative and determined founder or CEO’s lead a Colorado-based tech organization. In addition to the daily role of leading their organization, they work to drive the vibrancy of the tech economy beyond their business.

     

  • Past Recipients

    2024- John Street, Pax8
    2023 – Rachel Romer, Guild Education
    2022 – Phil McKinney, CableLabs
    2020- Dan Mackin, Rule4
    2019 – Brandon Ridenour, ANGI Homeservices
    2018 – Brock Berry, AdCellerant
    2017 – Shawn Mills, Green House Data
    2016 – Annette Quintana, Istonish
    2015 – Dave Wright, SolidFire

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.


  • Past Recipients

    2024-Brandi Vandegriff, Alchemer
    2023 – David Edinger, City and County of Denver
    2022 – Michelle Bourgeois, St. Vrain Valley Schools
    2020- Atilla Tinic, DISH Network
    2019 – Sandi Mays, Zayo
    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

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.

  • Past Recipients

    2024- Randall Frietzsche, Denver Health and Hospital Authority
    2023 – Julie Chickillo, Guild Education
    2022 – Artie Wilkowsky, DISH
    2020- Brennan Baybeck, Oracle
    2019 – James Carder, LogRhythm
    2018 – Robb Reck, Ping Identity
    2017 – Matt Shufeldt, Cognizant

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.

     

  • Past Recipients

    2024- James Martin, Butterflye Solutions–
    2023 – Maureen “Mo” Berkner Boyt, The Moxie Exchange
    2022 – Matt Frary, Managed Chaos Holdings
    2020 – Shawn Mills, Lunavi
    2019 – Trent R. Hein, Rule4
    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

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.

     

  • Past Recipients

    2024-iterate.ai
    2023 – LogRhythm
    2022 – AMP Robotics
    2020 – Convercent
    2019 – CableLabs
    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

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.

     

  • Past Recipients

    2024- Jaidie Vargas, Lockheed Martin & Latinas in Tech
    2023 – Drew Port, Rule4
    2022 – Nina Vendhan, Studio Management
    2020- Leidy Pérez, Zayo Group
    2019 – Jamie Cohen, ANGI Homeservices
    2018 – Samuel Thomas Elliot, Amnet

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.

  • Past Recipients

    2024- Atom Computing
    2023 – Rule4
    2022 – Tilt
    2020- Crusoe Energy Systems, Inc
    2019 – Bluestaq
    2018 – Pax8
    2017 – PAIRIN
    2016 – Couragion
    2015 – BluFlux
    2014 – GeoPoll
    2013 – Cloud Elements

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.

     

  • Past Recipients

    2024- Center of Excellence: City & County of Denver
    2023 – Adams 12 Five Star Schools
    2022 – Governor’s Office of IT 
    2020 – Colorado Department of Revenue
    2019 – St. Vrain Valley Schools
    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

DE&I Talent Champion of the Year

  • This individual/organization 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.

     

  • Past Recipients

    2024- Nicole Sherman, HighView
    2023 – Ashlie Arnold, Pax8
    2022 – Alejandro Dopico, PC’s For People – Denver 
    2020 – Helen Young Hayes, Activate Workforce Solutions
    2019 – Alan Buller, FEDC TechSTART
    2018 – Heather Terenzio, Techtonic Group
    2017 – Global MindED
    2016 – CareerWise Colorado
    2015 – Blind Institute of Technology

NOMINATE HERE
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DBJ: Colorado Entrepreneur Excellence
DBJ: Colorado Entrepreneur Excellence
DBJ: Advocate of the Year
DBJ: Advocate of the Year

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