Elite status validates ColorID’s unified approach to physical and mobile identity, built on Modern Identity Management principles

Cornelius, NC — February 25, 2026 — ColorID, LLC, a global identity systems integrator of secure credentialing and access technologies, today announced that it has achieved HID Elite Technology Partner status within the HID partner ecosystem. This designation recognizes ColorID as one of a select group of partners demonstrating advanced technical expertise, strategic integration capabilities, and excellence in delivering solutions built on HID technology.

The HID Origo Technology Partner Program is designed to foster collaboration with technology innovators who integrate secure mobile access into their platforms. The program supports joint solution development, technical alignment, and go-to-market collaboration to help partners accelerate growth and deliver scalable, mobile-first access solutions to the market.

“Becoming an HID Elite Technology Partner is a significant milestone for ColorID,” said Danny Smith, Owner of ColorID. “This recognition is driven by the capabilities of CardExchange® Cloud Suite. Our platform unifies physical and mobile credential lifecycle management within a single system, securely synchronizing across multiple applications within the broader identity ecosystem. We will continue to innovate and invest in solutions that empower organizations to maintain control of their identity infrastructure and make decisions that best support their unique operational environments.”
As an Elite Technology Partner, ColorID will continue to collaborate closely with HID to deliver integrated solutions across physical access, mobile credentials, secure issuance, and identity lifecycle technologies. The designation reinforces ColorID’s role as a trusted integration partner supporting customers across higher education, healthcare, enterprise, and government markets.

Sanjit Bardhan, Vice President and Head of Mobile, HID, said, “ColorID has demonstrated exactly the kind of technical depth and integration excellence that defines our Elite Partner tier. Together, we're helping organizations modernize identity infrastructure with solutions that are secure, scalable, and built to last.”

About ColorID
ColorID is a leading identity solutions integrator specializing in modern credential management across higher education, healthcare, enterprise, and government markets. With more than 26 years of experience, ColorID helps organizations design, deploy, and support secure identity ecosystems that balance innovation with operational reality. At the core of ColorID’s offering is CardExchange® Cloud Suite, a cloud-native identity management platform that centralizes the creation, issuance, management, and revocation of credentials across physical cards, mobile wallet credentials, and app-based mobile credentials. Unlike traditional platforms that require separate systems for different credential types, CardExchange® provides a single platform and a single credential lifecycle, enabling organizations to manage all identities consistently, securely, and efficiently. ColorID works closely with HID Global and other ecosystem partners to deliver open, interoperable solutions that integrate with existing infrastructure and avoid vendor lock-in. Vendor-agnostic, infrastructure-aware, and outcome-driven, ColorID helps organizations modernize identity with confidence, clarity, and control.

About HID
HID powers the trusted identities of the world’s people, places, and things, making it possible for people to transact safely, work productively, and travel freely. Their trusted identity solutions give people convenient access to physical and digital places and connect things that can be identified, verified, and tracked digitally. Millions of people around the world use HID products and services to navigate their everyday lives, and billions of things are connected through HID technology. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, HID has over 4,500 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID Global® is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com

​ANNOUNCEMENT – Acquisition strengthens ColorID and CardExchange's position as a global provider of identification solutions. 

​Cornelius, North Carolina, U.S.A., February 18, 2025 --- ColorID, a leading provider of identity solutions and secure credential technologies announced today that they acquired the CardExchange Group, which includes CardExchange Solutions, LLC (California, USA), ExchangeIT, B.V. (Netherlands), and CardExchange Solutions UNIPESSOAL, LDA (Portugal).
 
“By working with the CardExchange team and selling their products for years, we have firsthand experience of how their solutions can catapult a user to the next level of functionality while providing a strong hedge against future technology changes,” said Gary Smith, ColorID President, and Co-Owner.” We are pleased to announce that Marcel Oosterhof will run the CardExchange business as an independent business unit of ColorID while ColorID continues to be an integrator of multiple software and hardware solutions in selected vertical markets.
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CardExchange Group President Marcel Oosterhof expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “Joining forces with ColorID represents a tremendous opportunity to strengthen our product offerings that we will continue to sell through our world-class distribution channel.”
 
Executive Vice President and Co-Owner of ColorID, Danny Smith, shared, “We are excited to welcome CardExchange into the ColorID family. With the growth of mobile credentials and the drive for open application-rich enterprise platforms, we believe the industry is at a major inflection point, and the CardExchange Group’s product portfolio is perfectly suited to offer our customers a flexible platform that will allow them to adapt to the rapidly changing identification landscape at a pace and direction that meets their specific needs.” 

AUSTIN, Texas, July 16, 2020 – HID Global, a worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions, today announced that the University of Connecticut (UConn) has selected its Seos®  smart cards and HID® FARGO® Connect secure issuance solution to optimize student services and strengthen security across its five-campus network. The HID FARGO Connect cloud-based platform enables UConn to decentralize ID issuance and eliminate student wait times, while Seos technology eliminates the vulnerabilities of its legacy system. 

The university’s One Card office partnered with identification solutions supplier, ColorID, to upgrade its Husky One cards — which provide access to student essentials such as dorms, dining halls and printing services — with Seos credential technology to combat card duplication and fraud. “The biggest challenge for UConn was it needed to re-card its campus to bolster security,” said Cassie Bunner, Higher Education Account Manager at ColorID. “We wanted to present the university with a technology we knew and had confidence in. HID was exactly that.”

​Previously, the university’s card solution utilized proximity and magstripe technologies, which can easily be cloned. UConn’s 40,000 new Husky One cards retained magstripe and proximity technology to minimize disruption to campus life, while adding Seos technology for a phased university-wide transition to iCLASS readers. Once complete, UConn plans to remove proximity technology, further reducing card issuance costs.

“HID Global is leading the way in providing universities with trusted identity solutions so they can revolutionize processes that are vital for student success,” said Craig Sandness, Vice President and Managing Director, Secure Issuance with HID Global. “With our HID FARGO Connect solution and Seos smart cards, UConn leverages best-in-class credential technology to secure its campus and simultaneously consolidates and streamlines its student ID issuance process.”

In the future, the One Card office will manage its high-volume credential requirements and expedite student delivery using HID FARGO Connect and HDP5600 printers. UConn administrators plan to encode, print and issue about 18,000 credentials annually from any device on campus with a web interface.

​“Setting up our university with HID FARGO Connect will allow regional campuses to print cards directly for students — no wait, no temporary card,” said Stephanie Kernozicky, Director of UConn’s One Card Office. “The mobility of being able to take pictures and print wherever we need was a big factor in selecting FARGO Connect solutions.”

Download the case study for more information. To learn more about HID’s trusted identity solutions, visit www.hidglobal.com. 

​Over the past 20 years, ColorID has become a highly recommended supplier of security, identification, access control, biometrics and support solutions. Though primarily focused on specific North American markets, ColorID also provides these solutions to organizations around the world. The company’s highly knowledgeable and customer-focused sales and product management teams help customers select the best products and services from well-known and innovative manufacturers to meet their requirements. Also, the company’s engineering team provides exceptional support for the life of those products. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email ColorID at [email protected]. 

ColorID’s David Stallsmith highlights an oft-forgotten process in the university space: physical identity access management. ColorID has delivered HID SAFE to a number of universities in recent times, reflecting a demand for identity management offerings in a vertical short on options.

In the video Stallsmith explains some of the common challenges that university card offices face with regards to identity access management, many of which typically don’t fall under the card office’s purview.
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Seeking to provide a solution to this identity access management demand, ColorID has worked with a number of universities to implement HID SAFE, formerly Quantum Secure. As Stallsmith explains in detail,  HID SAFE  effectively acts as the go-between for student information systems and credentials, and the many departments or use cases on campus that require access to student identity to conduct transactions.

About ColorID
Over the past 19 years, ColorID has become a highly recommended supplier of security, identification, access control, biometrics and support solutions.  Though primarily focused on specific North American markets, ColorID also provides these solutions to organizations around the world. The company’s highly knowledgeable and customer-focused sales and product management teams help customers select the best products and services from well-known and innovative manufacturers to meet their requirements. Also, the company’s engineering team provides exceptional support for the life of those products. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email ColorID at [email protected].

ColorID was proud to sponsor the 2019 NACCU Best Card Design Award at the annual conference in Hartford, CT.  Congrats Nova Southeastern University for putting together a terrific design that all cardholders are proud to show off.

Check out the video where David Stallsmith of ColorID presents the 2019 NACCU Best Card Design Award to Nova Southeastern University / SharkCard Services.

About ColorID
Over the past 19 years, ColorID has become a highly recommended supplier of security, identification, access control, biometrics and support solutions.  Though primarily focused on specific North American markets, ColorID also provides these solutions to organizations around the world. The company’s highly knowledgeable and customer-focused sales and product management teams help customers select the best products and services from well-known and innovative manufacturers to meet their requirements. Also, the company’s engineering team provides exceptional support for the life of those products. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email ColorID at [email protected].

This spring trade show season is here so don't miss out on a chance to visit with ColorID and ask our experts your identification related questions.  Whether it's regarding the latest in contactless credentials, id badge printers, biometric devices or cloud based identity software - we can help!

National Association of Campus Card Users
April 7th - 11th, Hartford, CT
More info: https://naccu.org/page/naccu2019 
Booth# 314
​What are we showcasing?

• Physical Identity Access Management (PIAM) - As the number of identities and types of credentials available for each person on campus is increasing, traditional one-card systems are challenged to keep up with identity management tools.  New approaches to PIAM can expand a school’s options for considering new technologies and products which can be used across campus, while increasing physical security, user convenience, and the institution’s ability to meet new data security standards like GDPR.  Stop by for scheduled in-booth demonstrations on:
  • Tuesday, April 9th at 4pm and 5pm
  • Wednesday, April 10th at 10am and 11am.
• The Campus Identity Roadmap - What is it, Why do we need it, and How do we create one? Ask our experts about all the important aspects of the migration process for an ID card office and the steps and considerations required.
• CONTACTLESS CARD & MOBILE CREDENTIAL TECHNOLOGIES - Ask our experts which technology options are best for you and learn more about your mobile options. 
• ID BADGE PRINTERS - Stop by to check out the latest badge printer models from HID Fargo, Zebra, Entrust Datacard, Evolis and Nisca.

Presentations by ColorID:
              Titled, “People, Identities and Credentials: How to Connect the Dots”
              Monday, April 8, 2019, 1:15PM - 2:15PM
              Education Sessions Block 2, Room 22
              Danny Smith, ColorID & David Stallsmith, ColorID

               Titled, “ID Issuance Software Spins a Web: Product Survey and Case Study”
              Monday, April 8, 2019, 3:15PM - 4:15PM
              Education Sessions Block 4, Room 25
              David Stallsmith, ColorID & Stephanie Kernozicky, University of Connecticut

               Titled, “Please Turn on Your Phone: The Evolution of Mobile Technology”
              Wednesday, April 10, 2019, 1:30PM - 2:30PM
              Education Sessions Block 7, Room 24
              David Stallsmith, ColorID & Mark Brown, Vanderbilt University

​We recently became a corporate member for the  Stadium Managers Association and are excited about the upcoming annual conference this February.  In addition to the conference, we were asked to be apart of their member spotlight for the month of January.  Check out the article below and learn more about the Stadium Managers Association today.

​January 2019 Member Spotlight - ColorID, LLC
Company Name: ColorID, LLC
Primary Contact: Jacqui Chenard
 
Company Description / What does your company do? 
For over the past twenty years,ColorID has been a highly regarded value-added integrator of security, identification, access control and biometric solutions. Though primarily focused on specific North American vertical markets, ColorID is also a provider to organizations around the world. The company’s knowledgeable and customer-focused sales and product management teams help our customers select the best products and services from well-respected and innovative software and hardware suppliers. After the sale, ColorID’s engineering team provides exceptional support for the life of those products.  Our product portfolio in relation to the Stadium Managers Association consists of large format credentials (Press/VIP/Field passes), Credential badge printers and software, biometric readers (iris/face/palm vein/fingerprint) as well as physical and virtual contactless smart cards for building access.
What we would change about the industry:
Security is of the utmost concern to all public facilities at this time, with extra emphasis on high profile facilities.  With varying levels of security at different venues, the need for industry guidelines/protocols for physical access management, secure contactless credentials and biometric authentication must be created to incorporate layers of security in the industry. 
 
An idea or invention that we wish we had thought of..
The thing that is glued to my hands/head at all times: Smart phone (and while we’re at it, heated stadium seating).
 
One of our favorite stories that we tell about the business.
If you were to speak with any member of the ColorID Family regarding working here, the majority would comment on the unique culture.  There is truly a sense of family, instilled by our owners.   It is our goal to extend that culture to our customers.   
 
A great example of ColorID’s culture at work.   In 2013, within days of the Boston Marathon bombing, a native Bostonian ColorID staff member became aware of the “Boston One Fund.”  By purchasing the Boston One T-shirt, proceeds went to assist the victims of the bombing.   It took ColorID’s owner not a split second to say, “Order one for everyone on staff.” As ColorID’s Healthcare Division customers included the major hospitals caring for the injured, we decided to send along the below photo to let them know our company was standing strong with Boston.   To take it one step further, members of the staff had their children’s classrooms write cards to the first responders and hospital staff which we sent along to each of the hospitals.   We understand the cards lined the hallways of the hospital for weeks to come.   From the mouths of babes…the cards were incredible!
 
Quote that inspires the work that we do. “With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable.”- Thomas Fowell Buxton

What are you most looking forward to about Seminar?  
We are extremely excited to put faces with the names and voices we’ve been speaking to over the years. Additionally, we are grateful to be able to print and issue all of the conference badges onsite at registration. It will be a great opportunity to meet/greet everyone and for attendees to be able to see the credential printer system in action.

Ways to connect with us: 
Website:           www.colorid.com
Email:               [email protected]
Twitter:             twitter.com/colorid
LinkedIn:          https://www.linkedin.com/company/colorid/ 

Stop by and visit the ColorID team at the C3X NACAS show this October 14th - 16th in Orlando.  We will be stationed at booth 820 and will have a full array of campus identification products onsite for demonstrations and Q&A's. 

• Biometric dining solution to speed your dining hall lines
• Next generation solutions for Physical Access Identity Management
• Identification badge printers from all the major card printer manufacturers

Check out the C3X schedule here

​About ColorID
Over the past 19 years, ColorID has become a highly recommended supplier of security, identification, access control, biometrics and support solutions.  Though primarily focused on specific North American markets, ColorID also provides these solutions to organizations around the world. The company’s highly knowledgeable and customer-focused sales and product management teams help customers select the best products and services from well-known and innovative manufacturers to meet their requirements. Also, the company’s engineering team provides exceptional support for the life of those products. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email ColorID at [email protected].

Todd Brooks, Director of Product Management at ColorID breaks down the ins and outs of migrating to contactless technology for NACCU's video series - Talking Campus ID Tech.  Todd explains several reasons why the card industry has shifted towards contactless cards, citing a vulnerable magstripe technology as an example. He adds that replacing your physical access system with contactless technology is the best way to elevate your campuses security. Additionally, student service applications such as local transit can be added to a contactless card to provide a more robust campus card for students. 

See the full video clip below:

Stop by and visit the ColorID team at the GSX show this September 23rd - 27th in Las Vegas.  We will be stationed at booth 2427 and will have a full array of identification products onsite for demonstrations and Q&A's. 

• Identification badge printers from all the major card printer manufacturers
• Next generation credentials including Mobile ID's
• Biometric equipment for PAC's, POS and more

About ColorID
Over the past 19 years, ColorID has become a highly recommended supplier of security, identification, access control, biometrics and support solutions.  Though primarily focused on specific North American markets, ColorID also provides these solutions to organizations around the world. The company’s highly knowledgeable and customer-focused sales and product management teams help customers select the best products and services from well-known and innovative manufacturers to meet their requirements. Also, the company’s engineering team provides exceptional support for the life of those products. Contact ColorID at 704-987-2238 or toll free in Canada and the US at 888-682-6567. Visit ColorID on the web at: www.colorid.com or email ColorID at [email protected].