APEC Technologies
Awakening Possibilities for the Next Generation
APEC Technologies
APEC Technologies is a full service technology strategy and product firm serving the education sector. Our mission is to awaken possibilities and expand choices. We do this by providing the leadership of districts, charter, and education non-profits with expert technology guidance and groundbreaking digital solutions to change the narrative around the effectiveness of technology in educational models. Our ultimate goal is to support educational equity initiatives so that all communities are seen, heard, and inspired using technology as a gateway to opportunity.
Your results are our top priority!
Technology Strategy
Platform Design
Data & Reporting
Our 3Ps Approach
People
At APEC we believe that nothing replaces a great teacher in the classroom. Therefore people, both students and staff, are our first priority. Whether assessing a challenge or designing a solution we start by deeply listening and understanding the needs of all stakeholders. We ensure that our recommendations reflect the values of the organization and what matters most to its students, teachers, and leaders.
Process
We believe the how is just as important as the what. The demands on teacher and leader time mean that anything deemed cumbersome is a non-starter. Therefore, we:
Evaluate current and future processes with an eye on efficiency and ensure all steps add value to achieve the agreed upon goals.
Strive to implement solutions that teachers and leaders can implement and create immediate value from without the interruption of gratuitous training.
Design processes that consider the needs of all parties involved and that are relevant to the educational environment.
Platform
The appropriate technology is the final and equally important component in APEC solutions. Technology is a tool. You would not use a sledgehammer to hang up student work, just as you should not invest in expensive digital platforms when a more reasonably priced or free product can easily meet your needs. APEC is vendor agnostic. Our goal is simply to identify the best technology and ensure that it is effectively rolled out across the entire organization. We provide guidance on training and the important change management required to effectively utilize technology in your organization.
Our Vision, Mission and Why
APEC Technologies was founded in August 2016 by Lisa Lezama with the vision of becoming the leading technology strategy firm serving the education sector. APEC’s mission is to ensure educational institutions have high quality technology solutions provided by a diverse organization that demonstrates that possibilities are limitless.
What does APEC mean?
APEC stands for “awakening possibilities and expanding choices”. So often we are limited by what we see, what we think we know and are familiar with. The beauty of technology is that you can have a whole world available to you right from home, your computer or your phone. Technology is an access point. It unlocks a world of possibilities that you may have never known existed. APEC’s ultimate goal is to witness students awaken, realize and surpass what they originally thought possible for them personally, professionally and culturally.
Why is APEC focused on education?
APEC Technologies arose from our founder’s deep desire to use all of her technical talents in support of education. Lisa Lezama was born in Jamaica and raised in the Hartford, Connecticut area. She began coding at 12 years old and received her degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Connecticut. Although Lisa loved technology early, her passion for education grew while serving as a tutor and seeing many of her friends struggle with college coursework. After graduation Lisa joined General Electric (GE) where she designed, developed and managed technology on a global scale. While working across GE businesses and functions, Lisa understood technology’s benefits as well as how its use can go awry. Meanwhile laptops and tablets became increasingly popular in education with vendors promising improved students outcomes but seemingly falling short. Lisa realized that some of the problems seen in Corporate America with technology were the same problems facing schools but the stakes were much higher. Lisa founded APEC to support more effective and efficient use of technology so the students realize the ultimate intended benefits. APEC believes wholeheartedly in the partnership between technology and education. We know that appropriate curriculum integration, contingency planning, user confidence and adoption through training and flexibility are key to unlocking the power of technology in education.
Why is diversity important at APEC?
A pervasive narrative exists that people of color and particularly women are scarce in the technology space. However at APEC we know they are abundant and capable when given the opportunity. More importantly when serving students of color or those from underserved communities, APEC’s stance is that it is important for people from similar backgrounds to have a seat at the table. We believe that diverse voices improve decision making and can lead to better outcomes for students and teachers.
Lisa D. Lezama
An accomplished and passionate technical professional, Lisa D. Lezama is the founder and CEO of APEC Technologies. Lisa is a graduate of The Broad Residency Class of 2014-2016 where she served as technology leader for Achievement First’s Greenfield school model. Lisa led the Greenfield technology team to fully build out all technology platforms, data systems, and integrations for the new model. She also led Achievement First’s partnership with InnovateEDU on the design and development of Cortex, a personalized learning platform. Lisa was additionally responsible for the development and documentation of the ongoing vision and strategy for technology in the Greenfield model.
Previously, Lisa was an Associate in the Digital Business & Technology practice at Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company), working with financial services firms to establish a three-year technology strategy, assess and improve processes and restructure their organizations to be more responsive to customer needs. Lisa is also a graduate of General Electric’s premier Information Management Leadership Program. In six years at GE, she excelled through a proven ability to conceptualize and spearhead large development efforts. Lisa utilized a range of technologies to design tools specializing in streamlining complex processes. Her work spanned across all GE operating units and functions as she delivered business critical projects in a fast-paced environment.
Lisa earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from the University of Connecticut. She also holds an M.B.A. in General Management and Strategy as well as a Master of Arts in Educational Studies with a concentration in Digital Media & Education from the University of Michigan. Lisa currently resides in northern New Jersey with her husband and children.