There was a palpable presence of high energy in the room on June 30 when AZ Inno and the Phoenix Business Journal hosted the inaugural Fire Awards event, recognizing innovative companies and startups from across Arizona.
Young startup founders mingled with CEOs and members of the tech community at Lou's Bar & Grill at Papago Golf Club in Phoenix before the awards ceremony, which honored finalists and winners in four categories: Software, Health Care/Biotech, Female Founders and Inno Picks, a category recognizing companies that are major disruptors in their market sector.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation by Business Journal Editor-in-Chief Greg Barr of the inaugural Blazer Award — complete with a red jacket bearing the Fire Awards logo — to Gregg Scoresby of CampusLogic, who received this legacy award not only for guiding CampusLogic to prominence among Arizona's tech and education community, but for his work in nurturing and investing in other Arizona software startups.
The event's special guest was former NFL kicker Nick Lowery, who offered tastings to attendees of his newly launched tequila brand, El Bandido.
Presenting sponsor for the event was Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona, with executive sponsors Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona State University.
Click through the photo gallery below to see the award presentations and others who attended the event, and read profiles of this year's Fire Award winners here.
AZ Inno on Fire 2022
WebPT's Senior Content Marketing Manager Breanne Krager accepts an award from Phoenix Business Journal's Greg Barr during the AZ Inno Fire Awards Thursday, June 30, 2022, at Lou's Bar & Grill at Papago Golf Club in Phoenix. The winner of the award was WebPT co-founder Heidi Jannenga, in the Female Founder category. Krager filled in to accept the award when Jannenga was unable to attend.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Former NFL player Nick Lowery promotes his new tequila brand, El Bandido, during the AZ Inno Fire Awards.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
People mingle before the start of the AZ Inno Fire Awards, with finalists honored in four categories.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
ASU's Krista Hinz, Breanna Carpenter, Madeline Mercer and Christina Ngo pose during the AZ Inno Fire Awards event.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Sponsors of the AZ Inno Fire Awards, Ivan and Crystal Blackwell, Alison McGowan, Jeff Moore, Julie Carr, Patti Deckard, Alex Sarantis, Cari Stinchcomb and Jonathan Gatherers pose for a photo during the event at Lou's Bar & Grill in Phoenix.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Kyle Grone of Moov Technologies Inc. accepts an award from Phoenix Business Journal's Greg Barr during the AZ Inno Fire Awards event. Moov was the winning company in the software category.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
From left: Julie Carr, Alison McGowan, Shruti Gurudanti, Patti Deckard and Crystal Blackwell pose for a photo during the Phoenix Business Journal's Inno Fire Awards.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Jeff Jackson of Centauri Health Solutions accepts an award from Phoenix Business Journal's Greg Barr during the AZ Inno Fire Awards. Centauri was the winning company in the health care/biotech category.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Chris Golski of Footprint LLC accepts an award from Phoenix Business Journal's Greg Barr during the AZ Inno Fire Awards. Footprint won the Inno Pick award, chosen by the AZ Inno staff for a company that is disrupting its market segment.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
BlueCross BlueShield Arizona's Jeff Moore addresses the audience during the AZ Inno Fire Awards event. BCBSA was the presenting sponsor.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Melissa Keckler networks during the AZ Inno Fire Awards event.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Kaelyn Loeb, Mariah Davies and Tim Kempton Jr. pose with the poster honoring all of the finalists for the 2022 AZ Inno Fire Awards.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Shruti Gurudantl and Patti Deckard chat during the AZ Inno Fire Awards event.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Phoenix Business Journal's Greg Barr helps CampusLogic's Gregg Scoresby with his new red jacket, as the winner of the 2022 Blazer Award at the AZ Inno Fire Awards event, given to an executive who has gone above and beyond to help build up and nurture Arizona's startup community.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
After accepting his Blazer Award, CampusLogic's Gregg Scoresby addresses the crowd.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Michael Raftko talks with Kyle Grone, right, during the AZ Inno Fire Awards event.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Julie Carr shares a laugh with Ivan Blackwell during the AZ Inno Fire Awards event.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Phoenix Business Journal Market President and Publisher Ray Schey addresses the audience during the AZ Inno Fire Awards event.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Arizona Commerce Authority's Mark Moeremans addresses the crowd during the AZ Inno Fire Awards event. ACA was one of the executive sponsors of the awards program.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
Blazer Award winner Gregg Scoresby of CampusLogic is all smiles after returning to his table after receiving his award — and his new red jacket.
Darryl Webb/Special for the Phoenix Business Journal
