2010 Apex Awards Winners

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2010 Nominees

2010 Corporate Winners

Titan of Technology – Long View Systems
Long View Systems has demonstrated long-term growth and stability through both the dotcom collapse and the present economic downturn. With an emphasis on continuous education, building lasting relationships with industry partners, and providing innovative solutions to their clients, Long View experienced more than 100% growth in the seven past years. More on Long View Systems >> Other finalists for this category include: IQNavigator and NewsGator.

Technology Company of the Year – ServiceMagic
ServiceMagic didn’t slow down once they hit profitability. Instead, they pushed to deliver even more significant value for their service providers and guarantees for their consumers. They provided a meaningful and trustworthy meeting place for their two important constituents. This company has mastered one vertical and is now expanding and becoming versed in other industry verticals. More on ServiceMagic >> Other finalists for this category include: ReadyTalk and Rivet Software.

Technology Product of the Year – Intrado
Intrado recognized the potential of using technology to more effectively support the country’s emergency communication system, 9-1-1. Telecommunications providers, public safety organizations and government agencies rely heavily upon this company to provide the core of the nation’s 9-1-1 network. The experts at Intrado help define industry standards by participating on a variety of standard-setting bodies throughout the Public Safety community and Emergency Communications industry. More on Intrado >> Other finalists for this category include: Fluensee and Webroot.

Technology Service of the Year – Virtela
Founded in 2000, Virtela entered the market as the first managed services provider to leverage an innovative multi-carrier network model to deliver high-value enterprise network and security services. Unlike other network providers, this company challenged the conventional cloud computing model with a visionary architecture, Enterprise Services Cloud (ESC), which delivers services when, where and how customers need them -- on-demand from the cloud at dramatically lower costs than traditional solutions. More on Virtela >> Other finalists for this category include: OCI (Options & Choices, Inc.) and SDL.

Rookie of the Year – NIMBL
NIMBL differentiates themselves through education as they are constantly re-tooling their consulting force to be cutting edge in SAP technologies. They are recognized as a leading player within the SAP technical professional services space. Their committed pursuit of SAP knowledge allows them to constantly remain abreast of SAP’s latest capabilities and in turn, translates into tangible customer benefit by providing exclusive intellectual property product/service offerings. More on NIMBL >> Other finalists for this category include: People Scored and Trada.

IT Project of the Year – Lincoln Trust Company
Lincoln Trust Company modernized a heavy and cumbersome process into a cost effective and streamlined method that also added customer value. With an ROI of 120% and an overall cost savings of $2.2M, Lincoln Trust Company decreased process cycle times in some areas by up to 75%. Furthermore, this company experienced a 90% reduction in their customer complaints regarding processing delays. More on Lincoln Trust Company >> Other finalists for this category include: RTP and SysTest Labs.

2010 Individual Winners

Bob Newman Lifetime Achievement – Nancy Phillips, Co-Founder, Director & COO, ViaWest
Nancy has had a lasting impact in the technology industry as a whole. She has been dedicated to innovation, entrepreneurism and customer service. Nancy has influenced not only people here in Colorado and the United States but also in Canada. She has chosen Denver to be her corporate headquarters for her company, ViaWest, and has added great inspiration, character and business drive to our community. Her company is a model for technology success in Colorado, and she, as an individual, is a model for leadership. More on Nancy >>

Technology Executive of the Year – J.B. Holston, CEO & President, NewsGator
J.B. demonstrates an ability to conceive, create, and grow highly innovative new enterprises. He continues to support those efforts from inception through stability, regardless of the environment and all the normal and abnormal obstacles around high growth in entirely new categories. NewsGator has thrived largely as a function of two attributes: pace of innovation and a fanatical focus on customer satisfaction –and today is the pre-eminent provider of social business computing software with a 2.5 million paid user install base across 350 Global 2000 enterprise customers, civilian agencies and DoD entities. Over the last two decades, JB has led a wide range of technology and media enterprises to success. As President of Ziff Davis International, Holston managed operations across more than 100 countries and launched Yahoo! Europe. He was part of the senior management team that led the successful LBO of ZD by Forstmann, Little, and subsequent sale to Softbank. Holston’s career has included senior roles with GE and NBC, including a strategic post on Jack Welch’s staff. More on J.B. >> Other finalists for this category include: Bob Ogdon, CEO Swiftpage and Nancy Phillips, Co-Founder, Director & COO, ViaWest.

Technology Entrepreneur of the Year – Roy Dimoff, Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO, ViaWest
Roy is a visionary who started his first telecommunications company, in Toronto, Canada at age 26. He took control of RMI.net, and led it through one of the first internet IPOs. More recently, he successfully led his current company, ViaWest, through the dotcom crash and the recent economic downturn, successfully integrated 16 strategic acquisitions, and guided the company to a successful transaction of ownership to Oak Hill Capital Partners. More on Roy >> Other finalists for this category include: Dan Caruso, Co-Founder, President & CEO, Zayo Group and Josh Swihart, CEO, Aspenware.

Top Tech Teacher – Stacey Fornstorm, Denver Public Schools
Stacey teaches Software Engineering at the Computer Magnet at Thomas Jefferson High School. He has been an independent thinker, moving beyond the standard classroom expectations, and created a real-world arena where students are inspired to create and learn beyond the standards. Stacey led 13 students in participation of the "High School Project of the Year” competition, sponsored by the Project Management Institute (PMI), with five of his students winning. More on Stacey >> Other finalists for this category include: Kent Allison, Teacher - Technology and Engineering, Mountain Vista High School and Deb Nielsen, MESA Adviser/Gifted & Talented Coordinator, Colorado Mesa.

Colorado Technology Association Champion of the Year – Ellis Blevins, Division Director, Robert Half Technology; John Meyer, Digital Marketing & Business Development Executive, Pure Brand Communications; and Simone Verhulst, Marketing Coordinator, ReadyTalk These three volunteers have been heavily involved in Colorado Technology Association; the impacts of their contributions have been both tangible and intangible. They have had influence among other volunteers, and their willingness and ability to help Colorado Technology Association further its mission to advance the technology industry in Colorado has been unparalleled.

2010 Special Recognition

C-Level @ A Mile High John Oechsle and Kirby Slunaker Award – Micki Nelson, CIO, MWH
For the second year in a row, Micki Nelson, CIO of MWH was presented the John Oechsle and Kirby Slunaker Award for raising the most funds through bids during the C-Level at a Mile High event. Micki singularly raised $7,500 this year at the C-Level event!

Inaugural Million-Dollar Man Award – Steve Foster, President, Business Controls
For more than five years, Steve's relentless dedication to build both the technology industry in Colorado and the Colorado Technology Association, has resulted in record-breaking fundraising. Just in the past three years he has served as the event Board Co-Chair for C-Level @ A Mile High and as the Membership Chair. With his passion and perseverance, Steve has directly and indirectly raised more than a million dollars for Colorado Technology Association.

Advocates of the year Award - Representative Carole Murray, Representative Mike May, Senator Josh Penry and the Republican Caucus for their support of the technology industry
Our software industry faced new taxes during this year’s legislative session, and though HB1192 passed, it was with the help of Representatives Carole Murray and Mike May and Senator Josh Penry that we were able to minimize the negative impacts. Colorado Technology Association supports those who support our industry, and this special recognition was designed to thank these key legislators.

Special Thanks – To all the professionals who came together for long days and nights at the Capitol to testify for our industry.