Downtown Nashville from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Deaderick Street.
Martin B. Cherry | Nashville Business Journal
The Greater Nashville Technology Council has announced the finalists for its 13th annual awards program.
Nominees in the 15 categories below were vetted by a group of more than 70 judges from across the Middle Tennessee region. The tech council is the biggest and most visible representative of the region's quickly growing tech scene, counting more than 600 members. (The organization itself is on the cusp of change: Its longest-tenured CEO, Brian Moyer, is stepping down next year).
Winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony currently scheduled for Feb. 17 at the Wildhorse Saloon in downtown Nashville.
Technology Company of the Year
- Juice Analytics
- L3Harris/ForceX
- Realtracs Inc.
Technology Startup Company of the Year
- Mployer Advisor
- Pivot Technology School
- Clovers
Innovator of the Year
- Aaron Montlary, HCA Healthcare Inc.
- Samantha Burgess, New Orchard
- Sean Mooney, BluWave
Emerging Leader of the Year
- Mikil Taylor, Healthcare Bluebook
- Rod McDaniel, S3 Recycling Solutions
- Ali Bakhta, HPA - A Cognizant Company
Diversity & Inclusion Advocate of the Year
- Sheila Gibson, HCA Healthcare Inc.
- Sam Zaza, Middle Tennessee State University
- Stephen Castaneda, FortyAU/Culturally Tech
Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year
- Culturally Tech
- Comcast Business
- Nashville Digital Inclusion & Access Taskforce
Data Scientist of the Year
- Christi French, Digital Reasoning
- Jason King, Xsolis
- Sundar Kuppuswamy, Asurion
Software Engineer of the Year
- Kevin Huber, Digital Reasoning
- Daniel Cottone, Asurion
- Nathan Watkins, HCA Healthcare Inc.
CTO of the Year
- Bill Simpson, Ncontracts
- Trevor Hinesley, Soundstripe
- Dean Paquette, Quorum Health
CIO of the Year
- Randy K. Blue, DentaQuest
- Chris Montini, M3 Technology Group
- Lance N Rea, Baker Donelson
Product Manager of the Year
- Colleen Hoy, ENA
- Jenny Zhao, Asurion
- Michelle Egly, GoNoodle
Cyber Security Leader of the Year
- Jason Barnett, HCA Healthcare Inc.
- Dianne Rose, Asurion
- Jon Bowker, Ncontracts
Tech Influencer of the Year
- Zach Gemignani, Juice Analytics
- Haley Zapolski, Nashville Software School
- Taylor Desseyn, Vaco
Technology Educator of the Year
- Emily Hines, Central Magnet School
- Kelly Carey, Metro Nashville Public Schools
- Lauren Holtslander, Hillsboro High School
Community Leader of the Year
- Suzi Earhart, McorpCX
- Michael Erskine, MTSU
- Rod McDaniel, S3 Recycling Solutions
