2023 IT Executive of the Year Awards!
The IT Executive of the Year Awards recognize IT business people and IT related businesses that have employed Information technology or communications to improve lives within the communities they serve. The awards which are sponsored by SIM Austin are the most prestigious awards the Austin IT community has to offer. The IT Executive of the Year Awards bestow entrants and the winners with broad public recognition of their contributions, whether big or small. Examine the impacts on the service IT provides and the difference it makes within the businesses and community you live and work in. You might be amazed at how the biggest accomplishments can come from the smallest undertakings.
Since 1998, the awards have brought together local organization's to collaborate with the organizers and sponsors of the InnoTech Austin IT & Innovation Conference & Expo to produce the IT Executive of the Year Awards. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the program. The Awards are IT Public Sector Executive of the Year Award and IT Corporate Executive of the Year Award.
The IT Executive of the Year Awards spotlight IT Executives and Managers for their Creativity, Impact, Innovation, Process Transformation, and/or Leadership to the organizations they work so hard to support.
Nominees are judged on the following criteria:
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Creativity/Innovation - A strengthening of the competitive position of an organization's product or service through the creative use of information technology. Creation of a new system, technology, or application of IT that is unique and/or market-leading.
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Impact/Process Transformation - An increase in the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization through the use of information technology. A significant transformation of business processes to improve customer service or vendor relationships.
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Leadership/Community Service – Excellence in leadership skills and execution in the eyes of the IT staff and the executive management of the organization. Excellence in leadership skills through community involvement and service.
2023 IT Executive of the Year Award Recipients
The IT Executive of the Year Awards were presented in-person on May 3, 2023, at the Austin Convention Center. The SIM Austin chapter in partnership with InnoTech Austin, recognized the following winners of the 2023 IT Executive of the Year Award.
Harsha Bellur, Chief Information Officer, James Avery
Jayapal Parakkuth (JP), Chief Information Office, ERCOT
Also recognized as the Information Security of the Year was Shirley Erp, CISO, City of Austin.
2023 Award Recipients (left to right): Harsha Bellur, Shirley Erp, Jayapal Parakkuth (JP)
PAST AWARDS
2021 - A reception to award the Austin Tech Exec of the year was held at the CIO Forum at the International Conference on Information Systems - ICIS on December 13, 2021
2021 IT Award IT Leaders of the Year:
- IT Executive of the Year, Public Sector - Anh Selissen, CIO, TxDOT
- IT Executive of the Year, Private Sector - Kevin Hansel, CIO, Sailpoint
2020 - A Virtual Celebration thanks to the Pandemic, but still Celebrating IT Success on December 11, 2020
2020 IT Award IT Leaders of the Year:
- IT Legacy Award - Mitchell McGovern
- IT Executive of the Year, Public Sector - Kevin Schwartz, Technology Officer for Learning and Systems, Austin ISD
- IT Executive of the Year, Private Sector - Joanne Corum, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer, McCoys, Inc.
- Pandemic Patriot Award - Stephanie Hayden, Director Austin Public Health, City of Austin
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| Mitchell McGovern |
Kevin Schwartz |
Joanne Corum |
Stephanie Hayden |
Another exciting year at the 2019 IT Awards Gala held at InnoTech Austin on November 19, 2019.
2019 IT Award IT Leaders of the Year:
- Austin Women in Tech Excellence Award - Anh Selissen, CIO, Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT)
- IT Executive of the Year, Public Sector - Melody Parrish, Deputy Commissioner of Technology (CIO/IRM), Texas Education Agency
- IT Executive of the Year, Private Sector - Lou Senko, Senior VP of Hosting and CIO Q2
Left to Right - Melody Parrish, Deputy Commissioner of Technology (CIO/IRM); Texas Education Agendy; Lou Senko, Senior VP of Hosting and CIO, Q2; Ann Selissen, CIO , Texas Department of Transportation
2019 Austin Award Finalists:
- IT Executive, Public Sector
- George Rios, Director of IT, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- IT Executive, Private Sector
- Janet Cinfio, Senior VP Technology Operations and CIO, Acxiom
- Ryan Collins, CIO and CTO, Opening Landing
- Joanne Corum, Senior VP / CIO, McCoy Corporation
The 2018 IT Awards Gala held at InnoTech Austin on October 2, 2018 recognized the Austin IT Award Finalists and congratulated the following IT Leader of the Year recipients:
- Austin IT Legacy Award - Russ Finney, Advisory Partner and Researcher/CIO/McCombs School of Business Lecturer at itmWEB Group LLC
- IT Executive of the Year, Public Sector - Khalil Shalabi, VP Strategy, Technology and Marketing Operations at Austin Energy
- IT Executive of the Year, Private Sector - Michael Elliott, Chief Information Officer at Farm Credit Banks, TX
- Information Technologist/CTO of the Year - Adam Blue, Chief Technology Officer at Q2 Holdings, Inc.
- Austin IT Lifetime Achievement Award - Joe Iannello, Chief Information Officer at Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authori
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| Russ Finney, Advisory Partner itmWEB Group |
Khalil Shalabi, VP Austin Energy |
Michael Elliott, CIO Farm Credit Bank |
Adam Blue, CIO Q2 Holdings, Inc. |
Joe Iannello, CIO Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority |
In 2017 we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Austin IT Executives of the Year Awards. Congratulations to the 20th Anniversary award winners:
- IT Executive of the Year, Public Sector - Blake Holman, Chief Information Officer at St. David's Foundation
- IT Executive of the Year, Private Sector - Arleene Porterfield, VP of Global Sales and Marketing Operations at National Instruments
- Information Technologist/CTO of the Year - Mike Lunt, VP of Engineering at Zenoss
- Women in Technology Award of the Year - Laura Donnelly, Founder and CEO at Latinitas, Inc.
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| Blake Holman, CIO St. David's Foundation |
Arleene Porterfield, VP National Instruments |
Mike Lunt, VP Zenoss |
Laura Donnelly, Founder / CEO Latinitas, Inc. |
2017 pictures by photographer @EarlMcGee |
Let's take a quick look at the IT Award Recipients from previous years:
2016 IT Awards
- IT Executive of the Year - Brad Englert, UT Austin
- CTO of the Year - Mark Magnuson, Concepture
- CIO of the Year - Charles Valentine, Indeed, Inc.
- Tech Community Leadership - Ben Bentzin, Interactive Health Technologies
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| Charles Valentine, CIO Indeed |
Brad Englert, CIO UT Austin |
Mark Magnuson, CTO Concepture |
Ben Bentzin, CEO Interactive Health Tech |
2015 IT Awards
- IT Executive of the Year - T Michael Minks, Seton Healthcare
- IT Executive of the Year - Bill Wood, EZ Corp
- IT Executive of the Year - Rudy Montoya, Office of the Attorney General
- Woman in Technology Award of the Year - Tricia Berry, University of Texas
2014 IT Awards
- IT Executive of the Year - Walt Meffert, Hanger
- IT Executive of the Year - Stephen Elkins, City of Austin
- CTO of the Year - Terence Spielman, NewComLink
- Woman in Technology Award of the Year -Tamara Hudgens, Girlstart
- Austin Tech. Community Leadership - Hugh Forest, SXSW Interactive
2013 IT Awards
- IT Executive of the Year - Diane Kenyon, Harden Healthcare
- IT Executive of the Year - Bowden Hight, TX Health and Human Services
- CTO of the Year - Jim Keeler, Invodo, Inc.
- Woman in Technology Award of the Year - Tanya Acevedo, Travis County
2012 IT Awards
- IT Solution of the Year - Halo Mobile App, National Instruments
- IT Executive of the Year - Karen Robinson, TX Department of Information Resources
- IT Executive of the Year - Victor Fetter, Dell Online
- Info Technologist of the Year - Mickey Ristroph, Mutual Mobile
2011 IT Awards
- IT Community Leadership Award - Steve Guengerich, Appconomy
- IT Executive of the Year - Vijay George, LCRA
- IT Executive of the Year - Steve Finnerty, Applied Materials
- Info Technologist of the Year - Ross Buhrdorf, HomeAway
2010 IT Awards
- IT Solution of the Year - Tom Lott, LCRA
- IT Executive of the Year - Gary Gumbert, Health and Human Services Comm.
- IT Executive of the Year - Scott McKinlay, Austin Children’s Sheltre
- Info Technologist of the Year - Andy Maag, Bazaarvoice
2009 IT Awards
- IT Solution of the Year - David Dulak - Tokyo Electron
- IT Exec of the Year - Eric Hungate, TASB
- IT Executive of the Year - Dennis Strong, McCoy’s Building Supplies
- Info Technologist of the Year - Joshua Baer, OtherInBox
2008 IT Awards
- IT Solution of the Year - Advisors Team, National Instruments
- IT Executive of the Year - Richard Reynolds, City of Bee Cave
- IT Executive of the Year - Scott Smith, Temple-Inland
- Info Technologist of the Year - Jim Keeler, Wayport, Inc.
2007 IT Awards
- IT Executive of the Year - Sam Coursen, Freescale
- IT Executive of the Year - Jim Weatherby, Texas Legislative Concil
- Info Technologist of the Year - Mike Hoskins, Pervasive Software
2006 IT Awards
- IT Executive of the Year - Russ Finney, Tokyo Electron
- IT Executive of the Year - Greg Sedlock, TX Windstorm Insurance Assn.
- Info Technologist of the Year - Manoj Saxena, Webify/IBM
2005 IT Awards
- IT Executive of the Year - Umesh Manathkar, Silicon Labs
- IT Executive of the Year - Andres Carvallo, Austin Energy
- Info Technologist of the Year - Samy Aboel-Nil, MessageOne
2004 IT Awards
- IT Executive of the Year - John Cox, Texas Higher Education Recording Board
- IT Executive of the Year - Bill Mclellan, Texas Mutual Insurance
- Info Technologist of the Year - Tony Alagna, Whole Security
2003 IT Awards
- IT Executive of the Year - Gary Cowsert, Activant
- Very Special National IT Influence - Fred Mapp, AMD
- IT Executive of the Year - Peter Collins, City of Austin
- Info Technologist of the Year - Tom Ballard, Hoover’s Inc
- Special Executive Leadership Award - Russ Finney, Tokyo Electron
2002 IT Awards
- CIO of the Year - John Ciulla, Vignette
- CTO of the Year - Joe Harlow, Travis Co. Info & telco systems
- CTO of the Year - Dr. Jikku Venkat, United Devices
2001 IT Awards
- CIO of the Year - Diana Williamson, Office of the Attorney General
- CTO of the Year - Dr. Cathy Fulton, NetQoS
2000 IT Awards
- CIO of the Year - Treg Russell, Texas Medical Liability Trust
- CTO of the Year - Hayden Steward, Triactive
1999 IT Awards
- CIO of the Year - Jerry Oliver, Austin Bergstrom Airport
- CIO of the Year - Jeff Tyler, Collective Technologies
- CTO of the Year - Neil Webber, Vignette
1998 IT Awards
- CIO of the Year - Jerry Gregory, Dell Computer
- CTO of the Year - Steve Madere, Deja news