TechPoint to Present Trailblazer Award to BCforward CEO
Justin Christian
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndianapolis-based TechPoint will honor entrepreneur and philanthropist Justin Christian with its Trailblazer Award during the virtual 22nd annual Mira Awards gala. Christian co-founded IT consulting firm BCforward in 1998, which is now the state’s largest Black-owned company and one of the top 100 largest Black-owned companies in the country.
The nonprofit growth accelerator for the state’s tech sector says BCforward and its subsidiaries are major players in IT consulting and workforce fulfillment for the Fortune 1000 and governments around the world.
“Justin’s built one of the largest minority-owned firms in the country,” said Bryan Smith, president of Smith Equity Partners. “He doesn’t necessarily report on that information, so I think a lot of people don’t realize that BCforward is based here in Indianapolis and they have employees all over the world. That is impressive by all accounts.”
The Mira Awards celebrate the best of tech in Indiana each year. The Trailblazer Award recognizes people whose contributions have had “lasting and significant impact on the state and its technology ecosystem.”
BCfoward employs more than 6,500 people in 47 states in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Europe and India.
“Justin was the chair of the search committee that brought me to DePauw to become the 21st president, and so my very first impression of Justin—we actually met over the phone—I thought to myself, ‘wow, he is really impressive,’” said DePauw University President Lori White. “He asked me really challenging, but interesting questions. At the same time, he really drew me in to be excited about the opportunity and the possibility of becoming, ultimately, the president of DePauw.”
Last year, Christian was nominated as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year National Award winner.
Christian is a member of Junior Achievement’s Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame. He has served on the board of the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, Goodwill of Central Indiana, the Indiana Gaming Commission, and the Indianapolis Bond Bank.