DEREK BARKA
MEET DEREK
PARTNER, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
As Chief Technology Officer at SilverTech, Derek defines and drives the agency’s technology vision—helping clients harness data, digital platforms, and emerging technologies to solve complex business challenges and build meaningful, lasting customer relationships.
Known for finding solutions to the toughest and most complicated technology challenges, Derek combines innovation with deep expertise across enterprise architecture, cloud infrastructure, custom development, and big data. He brings a security-first mindset and a sharp focus on privacy and compliance, enabling organizations to build secure, scalable, and future-ready digital ecosystems.
Derek serves as a strategic adviser to both SilverTech’s technology partners and clients. He works closely with platform providers—often consulting on product roadmaps—to ensure solutions align with real-world business needs and deliver maximum value. He also helps client organizations develop and execute digital roadmaps that make the most of their existing systems and data, integrating legacy technologies with modern platforms where and when it makes sense to drive growth, stay competitive, and support long-term success.
Throughout his career, Derek has played a key role in shaping the tools and platforms that power modern digital marketing. He is a recognized authority and thought leader in the martech space—recently named a Kentico MVP and Progress Sitefinity Champion. Derek holds numerous certifications, including Kentico Developer, Kentico Marketer, Sitefinity Developer, and Sitecore Developer.
SilverTech Recognized with Multiple w3 Awards for Excellence in Digital Innovation for VisitNH and Port Canaveral
10/14/25
Bedford, NH — October 14, 2025 - SilverTech, a leading national digital experience agency, has been honored with multiple W³ Awards for outstanding achievement in digital strategy, design, and technology innovation for its work on VisitNH.gov and Port Canaveral. Presented by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), the W³ Awards celebrate creative excellence on the web and recognize agencies that set new standards in user experience and digital transformation.
These honors highlight SilverTech’s leadership in delivering digital ecosystems that transform how destinations, infrastructure organizations, and enterprises engage with their audiences.
Transforming Destinations Through Digital Experience
Visit New Hampshire (VisitNH.gov)
SilverTech partnered with the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development to completely reimagine the state’s official tourism website into a high-performing, data-driven destination experience.
Built on Xperience by Kentico, the new VisitNH.gov delivers personalized, dynamic content tailored to users’ interests and geolocation — helping travelers discover authentic New Hampshire experiences faster and more intuitively.
The redesign also includes:
1. Dynamic Foliage Tracker: An all-new, reimagined foliage tracker—one of the most in-demand features of the site during fall—provides real-time insights, updated visuals, and improved travel planning tools. The previous version was a simple slider and color-coded map; the new design delivers a more engaging, intuitive experience for foliage seekers.
2. Personalized Experiences: Leveraging geolocation technology, the site now tailor’s homepage content to key audiences such as Canadian visitors from Quebec.
3. Enhanced accessibility and faster performance, improving Core Web Vitals by more than 50%.
4. Increased engagement metrics, including a 30% lift in session interaction and nearly 20% more event calendar activity.
This latest recognition builds on SilverTech’s 20+ year partnership with the State of New Hampshire, where the agency continues to drive innovation across dozens of state websites and digital services. This long-standing partnership reflects trust, innovation, and a shared vision for advancing the state’s digital presence.
Amy Bassett, Deputy Director of the NH Division of Travel and Tourism, praised the collaboration:
“SilverTech’s digital expertise, combined with the power of the Kentico platform, has elevated our ability to compete in a digital-first tourism market. The new VisitNH.gov offers speed, ease of use, and personalization that keep visitors engaged and coming back.”
Modernizing a Global Gateway: Port Canaveral
For Port Canaveral, one of the world’s busiest cruise and cargo ports, SilverTech delivered a complete digital transformation — designing a site that reflects the Port’s role as a hub of travel, trade, and innovation.
The new website, built on Progress Sitefinity, streamlines complex navigation into a clean, intuitive experience for multiple audiences including travelers, tenants, and maritime partners. The result is a powerful, responsive site that provides real-time information, simplifies access to port services, and strengthens the Port’s digital infrastructure for the future.
Behind the scenes, SilverTech implemented modern content management tools and workflows to give Port Canaveral’s communications team more autonomy, flexibility, and speed in publishing updates.
“Winning multiple W³ Awards for two very different clients demonstrates SilverTech’s ability to deliver measurable impact through creativity, data, and technology,” said Bill Storace, Chief Digital Officer at SilverTech. “Whether inspiring travel to a state or streamlining access to a major U.S. port, our goal is always the same — to craft connected digital experiences that make complex ecosystems simple, personal, and effective.”
About the W³ Awards
The W³ Awards, presented by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), honor the best in digital creativity across websites, marketing, mobile, video, social, and emerging technologies. Judged by leading professionals from top media, communications, and marketing firms, the awards recognize exceptional design, usability, and innovation in digital communications.
About SilverTech
SilverTech is a leading digital experience agency redefining how businesses engage with their customers through measurable, modern, and innovative digital solutions. Founded in 1996, the national agency delivers an unexpectedly enjoyable client experience while solving complex business challenges through strategy, creativity, and technology. With offices in Bedford, NH, Indianapolis, IN, and Cleveland, OH, SilverTech sets the bar higher for smart, collaborative client partnerships. The 2025 acquisition of Paragon Inc. expands SilverTech’s reach and capabilities, broadening its service offerings, deepening enterprise expertise, and creating new opportunities to deliver greater value and impact for clients. SilverTech’s full suite of services includes digital strategy and consulting, marketing, user experience and design, journey mapping, advanced web and AI application development, and data and technology integration. Together, the combined teams manage a diverse roster of clients including Allison Transmission, Nova Scotia Power, Drexel University, the State of New Hampshire, Georgia Pacific, Renown Health, United Community Bank, Fulton Bank, UGG, HOKA, and Mutual of Omaha.
