Sam Blackman Award

The Sam Blackman Award, named for AWS Elemental Founder & CEO and 2015 Technology Executive of the Year Sam Blackman, recognizes executives of Oregon and Southwest Washington-based technology companies for excellence in industry leadership, as well as their positive impact on the greater community.

Sam Blackman founded Elemental Technologies in 2006 with Brian Lewis and Jesse Rosenzweig. Blackman led the company from a tiny startup to one of Portland’s major employers before selling it to Amazon in 2015. He stayed on as CEO of AWS Elemental and was awarded the Technology Association of Oregon's Technology Executive of the Year in 2015. Blackman passed away suddenly in 2017 at age 41, and the Technology Executive of the Year Award was renamed in his honor.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The recipient of this award is recognized not only for their professional achievements but also for their influence as a mentor, role model, and advocate for the technology community in Oregon. The honoree has played a significant role in fostering collaboration, entrepreneurship, and technological advancements, shaping the state's technology industry landscape.

Tech Champion Award

The Tech Champion Award was launched in 2018 to recognize a leader outside the tech community who has made a powerful impact on the Oregon and Southwest Washington industries. The Tech Champion can be from any industry outside of tech whose work has actively supported and influenced the technology industry’s growth.