Jesse Aweida is regarded as the father of the computer data storage industry in Boulder County. He was the original chairman and president of Storage Technology Corp., which he founded in 1969 and built into a billion-dollar company in 12 years. Since leaving the company, Jesse has been involved in the financing and startup of several companies, both individually and as the general partner of Aweida Venture Partners. Jesse and his wife, Maria, have been active contributors to many Boulder County nonprofit organizations.