Kristi Alford-Haarberg

Kristi Alford-Haarberg is president and CEO of E2 Optics. Launching the company was one of the biggest risks she said she’s taken in business.

“By entering a male-dominated industry, I risked everything to get E2 Optics up and running,” Alford-Haarberg said. “From personal finances to my credibility, I put it all on the line. And every day I thank God I did. As an entrepreneur, you are faced with hard choices, (and) oftentimes those choices force you to choose between family, loved ones and your business. I’ve been very blessed that my family and loved ones have supported me every step of the way with E2.

“I’m proud of how far E2 Optics has come in the last 13 years. And I’m even more excited to see where the next 13 years take us. By taking this giant leap of faith and putting in the hours to make it happen, I am beyond proud of the risk I took to start E2 Optics.”

E2 Optics is an award-winning technology integrator headquartered in Denver and founded in 2010. The organization helps clients deploy solutions using the company’s expertise in cabling, networking and contemporary multimedia communications.

“E2 Optics believes that modern, turnkey technologies minimize operational costs, are simpler to manage and result in better long-term investment returns,” the company said. “From missioncritical data centers to new facility and tenant-finish installation projects, we design low-voltage solutions that seamlessly integrate audiovisual, physical security, structured cabling and wireless solutions.”

Alford-Haarberg believes in mentoring the next generation and has put in place a career growth program at her company. The program includes training and mentorship, which starts from day one and continues with one-on-one meetings with management and training in the field. On average, Alford-Haarberg said, an entry-level technician can advance to a management track within 18 to 24 months.

Under Alford-Haarberg’s leadership, E2 Optics has grown in both staff and revenue year after year. This is her second time on the Titan 100 list.

“In the last year, my biggest leadership lesson learned is to not be fearful of growth,” she said. “As we are coming off the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, I can say that we not only survived, but thrived, thanks to understanding the importance of both team collaboration and taking in the advisement of my senior leaders.

“While we are well beyond the startup phase, growth can be an intimidating thing as it requires more trust in my senior leadership team and their ability to continue my vision for E2.”

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