Since 2019, Circle Optics has been an active member of the APEX Accelerator community, leveraging the network, training, and connections to strengthen our Department of Defense (DoD) and prime contractor strategy. Over the years, Anna Vulaj Fitzsimmons and her Monroe County team have become an integral part of our success in navigating the federal marketplace and building relationships with small business offices across the defense ecosystem.
This year’s DoD Northeast Regional Council Conference & Matchmaker Event, hosted in Rochester, NY, brought together more than 500 registrants from across the United States—including industry leaders, defense officials, technology innovators, and economic development partners. The event underscored the collective mission of strengthening the defense industrial base through collaboration, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
Circle Optics was proud to be a conference sponsor. Our COO Ian Gauger presented a pitch on our stitch-free panoramic imaging systems, and our VP of Marketing Jennifer Sertl connected with multiple potential partners, building relationships that will help advance our situational intelligence solutions into new defense and aerospace programs. The Monroe County APEX Accelerator—funded by the DoD—has achieved remarkable results, helping companies secure nearly 20,000 contracts worth more than $1.1 billion over the past five years. For every $1 invested, the program has generated more than $1,500 in economic impact.
Congressman Morelle emphasized both the urgency and the opportunity before us:
“In perhaps no other time in American — or even human — history has the investment in science, technology, and innovation been so critical. These investments drive our economy, safeguard our national security, and strengthen our role in the world. Yet a recent year-long study found that China leads the United States in 37 out of 44 strategic technologies — from advanced radio frequency communications to micro-sciences. That is simply unacceptable. The United States must reassert itself as the leader of the free world, and that begins by advancing critical defense technologies like quantum, optics and photonics, and semiconductors. That work is happening right here in Rochester, and it is why your engagement in events like this is so important.”
The recent expansion of the Monroe County APEX Accelerator to serve 13 counties across the Buffalo–Rochester–Syracuse Tech Hub region aligns perfectly with Upstate New York’s designation as a federal Tech Hub. This expansion opens new opportunities for businesses to enter the supply chain and compete for government contracts at the federal, state, and local levels.
The conference agenda featured nine presentations highlighting regional technology leaders, delivered in partnership with the University of Rochester’s Center for Immersive and Creative Technologies. The program concluded with an Innovation Showcase and Networking Reception, encouraging participants to form partnerships that drive capability development for the defense sector.
A key focus was cybersecurity readiness, with expert sessions explaining the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework and offering free resources to help small and medium-sized businesses meet compliance requirements—an essential step for any company entering or expanding within the defense supply chain.
Congressman Morelle also underscored the critical role of programs like APEX in bringing government, industry, and academia together:
Programs like the newly renamed Monroe County Upstate New York APEX Accelerator are essential to strengthening our defense industrial base. They connect small businesses with the Department of Defense, create pathways into the federal supply chain, and foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia. Thanks to the leadership of Anna Fitzsimmons and her team, we’re seeing contracts won, capabilities expanded, and partnerships built that will pay dividends for years to come. This is what it means to build one team, with one mission — ensuring the United States remains secure, competitive, and innovative.
Why It Matters for Circle Optics
We were proud to sponsor the 2025 DoD Northeast Regional Council Conference & Matchmaker Event in Rochester, NY — a gathering of more than 500 leaders from the defense industrial base, government, and technology sectors.
Our COO Ian Gauger took the stage to present on Circle Optics’ stitch-free panoramic imaging systems, highlighting how our solutions deliver Situational Intelligence for a safer, smarter, more immersive world.
“It was great to see how much the event has grown. The quality of speakers, matchmaking sessions, and networking opportunities have certainly made this a valuable event to attend.” – Ian Gauger, COO, Circle Optics
We extend our thanks to Anna Fitzsimmons and the entire Monroe County APEX Accelerator team for hosting such a dynamic, high-value event — and to Congressman Joe Morelle for his inspiring call to action on the role of science and technology in securing America’s future.
For Circle Optics, events like this go far beyond networking. They are strategic touchpoints where we engage directly with decision-makers, innovators, and program leaders shaping the next generation of defense capabilities. Our participation reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering Situational Intelligence for a safer, smarter, more immersive world, and to working alongside partners across the region and nation to advance U.S. leadership in critical technologies.
One Team. One Mission.
