About the Judges
Eddie Binder
Eddie Binder is the owner and principal of the management consulting firm of Apex Growth Strategies (www.apexgrowth.com). The firm helps companies and private equity firms identify and maximize strategies for profitable growth. Apex’s services include strategic planning, business analysis, strategic valuation and due diligence, and marketing/sales development. Binder is the president of the board of directors of the Charter Oak Cultural Center, a Hartford-based non-profit dedicated to providing dynamic arts and social justice programming. In 2009, Eddie was named the “Non-Profit Volunteer of the Year” by the Hartford Business Journal for his work with the Charter Oak Cultural Center for mentoring a special young man, Rakkim Johnson, throughout his high school years. Binder resides in West Hartford with his wife, Kathy, and their three children.
Kate Emery
Kate Emery is founder and CEO of Walker Systems Support, which offers professional IT Services to Connecticut organizations looking for remote, on-site, ongoing and project-based computer network support.
She serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford and is a founding member of the Social Enterprise Network, promoting conscious capitalism and social enterprise in Connecticut.
Walker Systems Support offers the latest in technology to help manage IT systems, combined with a team of technical experts to help serve many organizations in the non-profit community and, as a stakeholder business, is committed to equally serving all of its investors, employees and the community.
Stephen Thomas Sonnone
Stephen Sonnone is vice president of business development for PPI Benefit Solutions, where he has worked for the past 11 years. He is a member of the Connecticut Benefit Brokers and in January was elected to its board of directors.
Sonnone participates in a variety of organizations where he utilizes his education and experiences to benefit others. In 2007, he was honored as one of the Hartford Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 winners. He has maintained a position on the board of directors of Our Piece of the Pie since 2007. In 2009, he joined the board of directors of Nutmeg Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Stephen donates many hours of his time to events hosted by a variety of charitable organizations. He is a 1990 graduate of Trinity College of Hartford and resides in South Windsor.
