2018 GCOI Award Winner Bios
Judges Award – Al Maag
After a unique career spanning four decades starting in Chicago, Al retired in 2013 as chief communications officer for Avnet, Inc., a Phoenix based Fortune 500 company and one of the world’s largest technology distributors at $27 billion in sales. Since 1998 he had an impact on its brand and employee engagement based on his community relations and PR efforts including Fortune naming Avnet as “most admired company” in its category 5 years in a row. During his tenure there he was voted Volunteer Executive of the Year by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2009. He also won ANA of Marketers awards.
Ed Denison Award – Heidi Jannenga
As president and co-founder, Heidi leads WebPT’s product vision, company culture, and branding efforts, while advocating for the physical therapy profession on a national scale. She co-founded WebPT after recognizing the need for a more sophisticated industry-specific EMR platform and has since guided the company through exponential growth, while garnering national recognition. Heidi brings with her more than 15 years of experience as a physical therapist and multi-clinic site director as well as a passion for healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
An active member of the sports and private practice sections of the APTA, Heidi advocates for independent rehab therapy businesses, speaks as a subject-matter expert at industry conferences and events, and participates in local and national technology, entrepreneurship, and women-in-leadership seminars. In 2014, Heidi was appointed to the PT-PAC Board of Trustees. She also serves as a mentor to physical therapy students and local entrepreneurs and leverages her platform to promote the importance of diversity, company culture, and overall business acumen for private practice rehab therapy professionals. In 2015, Heidi was named the AzPTA’s Physical Therapist of the Year.
Heidi was a collegiate basketball player at the University of California, Davis, and remains a lifelong fan of the Aggies. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and exercise physiology, went on to earn her master’s degree in physical therapy at the Institute of Physical Therapy in St. Augustine, Florida, and obtained her doctorate of physical therapy through Evidence in Motion. When she’s not enjoying time with her daughter Ava, Heidi is perfecting her Spanish, practicing yoga, or hiking one of her favorite Phoenix trails.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Jim Armstrong
Jim Armstrong is Managing Partner of Canal Partners. In this role Mr. Armstrong is responsible for all aspects of the company including identification of potential acquisition targets, due diligence, financial analysis and final investment decision making. Mr. Armstrong currently serves on the board of WebPT.
Mr. Armstrong is former Chairman of the Board of JDA Software Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: JDAS), which he founded in Canada in 1978. Headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, JDA Software Group, Inc. provides enterprise software solutions to the world-wide supply chain market, enabling planning, optimization, and execution of merchandising and supply chain processes. Mr. Armstrong served as Chief Executive Officer of JDA Software from 1985 to 1997 and again from 1999 to 2003.
Mr. Armstrong serves on a wide range of boards and foundations. In addition to previously serving as Chairman of the Board for JDA Software Group, Inc., he is a Director and President of JDA Investments (US), Inc. and Director for WebPT, Inc. He is President and Chairman of the Armstrong Family Foundation, President and Chairman of the Kiita Foundation, and Director of the Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation. He has received numerous awards and honors including Arizona Software Association Business Leader of the Year, Ernst and Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Ernst and Young Spirit of Philanthropy Award, Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year Award, and National Society of Fundraising Executives Spirit of Philanthropy Award. Mr. Armstrong formerly served as Chairman of Omnilink Systems and Director of ClickDimensions.