Tech Titans is looking to highlight the companies it considers among the "elite" of North Texas technology.
After putting out a call for nominations in June, the local tech trade organization – one of the largest in Texas with more than 300 member companies representing about 250,000 employees – has unveiled its lineup of finalists for its annual Tech Titans Awards.
Highlighting businesses from startups to Fortune 500s, the 21st run of the awards recognizes companies and leaders in categories spanning from emerging company innovation to corporate innovation, along with categories highlighting those supporting the DFW technology ecosystem.
While last year's awards went fully virtual for the first time, this year's ceremony will be held in a hybrid format. However, Tech Titans has pushed back the date from Oct. 21, when originally planned to be held at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts, to Jan. 19. Given this year's theme, the new date is fitting, "New Year, Bright Future."
"The Tech Titans Awards is a highlight for the region in tech, featuring those who are building solutions that will shape our lives in the future," Kathy Curry, chair of the Awards Gala committee and technology manager at State Farm, previously said in a statement. "Technology innovation continues to do amazing things, especially during challenging times."
Check out the finalists in each category below. Tech Titan's said it has yet to announce finalists in the Corporate CEO and Community Hero categories and who the inductee into the organization's hall of fame will be this year.
Corporate Innovation Award
- Brinks Home
- Ericsson
- Gearbox Entertainment Company
- VEX Robotics
Emerging Company Innovation Award
- CASPR
- E4D Technologies
- Esposure
- Linear Labs, LLC
Emerging Company CEO Award
- Jon Bolen, ENTOUCH
- Mance Harmon, Hedera Hashgraph
- Sanjay Jupudi, Qentelli LLC
- Danny Martin, Esposure
Startup CEO Award
- Robert M. Atkins, BALANCED Media Technology
- Dr. Tye Caldwell, ShearShare, Inc.
- John David (JD) Enright, TMGcore
- Daniel Powell, Spark Biomedical Inc.
Corporate CIO Award
- Sumit Anand, At Home Group Inc.
- Kevin Scott, PGA of America
- Neelu Seethi, Reddy Ice, Inc.
- Trude Van Horn, NCH Corporation
Corporate CTO Award
- Kate Hopkins, AT&T
- Maria Lensing, McKesson Corporation
- Gordon Mansfield, AT&T
- Terry Traina, Masergy Communications
Emerging Company CIO/CTO Award
- Dr. Corey Clark, BALANCED Media Technology
- Rashmi Jain, Careington International Corporation
- Mark Patton, Scout and Cellar
- Andrew Wildrix, Intrusion Inc.
Technology Inventor Award
- Leemon Baird, Hedera Hashgraph
- Bloodbuy Team, Bloodbuy
- Narendra Dahotre, UNT College of Engineering
- Daniel Powell, Spark Biomedical Inc.
Technology Advocate Award
- Scott Baradell, Idea Grove
- Robyn Brown, Bold Idea
- Karen Krygowski Bruno, Technology Ball
- Michael Hill, Cumulus Technologies, Inc.
Tech Titans of the Future – University
- John Hansen, University of Texas at Dallas
- Raul Hinojosa, University of Texas at Dallas Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Jeffrey McGee, University of Texas at Arlington
- Qing Yang, UNT College of Engineering
Tech Titans of the Future – High School
- Morris Goldade, Wylie ISD
- Annette Munson, Richardson ISD/Lake Highlands High School
- Kari Nathan, Lewisville ISD TECC – East Campus
- Gary Ryman, Lewisville ISD-Hebron High School
