JENNIFER OLIVEIRA
EDUCATION AWARD WINNER

Jennifer Oliveira serves as Director of Technology for South Bay Union School District. A K-through-8 district comprised of 12 instructional sites, South Bay houses a Dual Language Immersion Program, a STEAM Academy, a Global Leadership & Empowerment Academy, and a Visual and Performing Arts Program.

Over the past year, Jennifer has orchestrated a series of pivotal technological advancements including a new HR system, the revitalization of a new employee onboarding and substitute-training program, multi-factor authentication to stave off potential cyber threats, and the expanded use of an online library circulation platform to better manage district inventory.

Among the outcomes of these initiatives are enhanced operational effectiveness and resource optimization –  not to mention significant cost savings for the district. Which is why Jennifer Oliveira is recognized by her colleagues as a results-oriented, collaborative, visionary, catalyst of change.

SEAN SORIANO
GOVERNMENT AWARD WINNER

A 26-year veteran with the San Diego Police Department Crime Lab, Criminalist and Technical Lead, Sean Soriano began his career as a forensic scientist, examining physical evidence for DNA analysis in support of investigative work. His technical acumen, yet unknown to the department, only became evident in time through the digital databases and scheduling systems he created to streamline processes.

It wasn’t until the department established its own DNA laboratory to work in conjunction with CODIS (CO-dis)– the United States national DNA database, that the breadth of Soriano’s technical skills were realized. To enhance internal use and integration of CODIS, which had been provided on just one system, he created a secure network of computers, complex robotics, DNA analysis machines, and workstations compliant with FBI protocols.

Sean Soriano also developed a number of network environments to help streamline SDPD’s investigative processes, and in addition to his duties as a crime scene reconstructionist and subject-matter expert, co-developed the department’s Forensic Technology Unit, established to examine, extract, and analyze mobile devices for investigative purposes

BEN MORTENSEN
NONPROFIT AWARD WINNER

SAY San Diego – Social Advocates for Youth, was founded in 1971 with a mission to strengthen children, families, and communities through a variety of comprehensive programs and services that empower participants to thrive. At the heart of SAY’s work is a commitment to equity, opportunity and well-being. Not only in the physical world, but digitally too. And that’s where Senior IT Manager, Ben Mortensen comes in.

Ben championed equity by launching free internet WIFI programs in under-resourced neighborhoods, and by organizing tech education workshops. He championed opportunity by migrating SAY’s data and applications to cloud-based solutions that enhance accessibility, and by upgrading hardware to boost performance and reliability. And he continues to champion the well-being of SAY participants by implementing state-of-the-art security measures that protect their personal data, and are routinely audited.

Driven by a clear vision, and a dedication to digital inclusion and operational excellence, Ben Mortensen is advancing their technological infrastructure, so that SAY San Diego can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of San Diegans.

TARA SPARKS
HOSPITALITY & ENTERTAINMENT AWARD WINNER

Jamul’s crystalline jewel box – The Jamul Casino Resort, is a 252-room luxury resort featuring spa & salon amenities, a rooftop pool deck, dining options, a full-scale casino with a dedicated poker room, and some guest-wowing technological enhancements, thanks to the successful execution of Senior IT Manager, Tara Sparks.

Tara is the pivotal force behind the seamless integration of the hotel’s multi-lingual DigiValet system that enables guest-controlled room functions and service requests using voice-activated commands, centralized multimedia platform that allows guests to access property-wide content with a single touch, and AI-powered messaging solution enabling real-time, app-less, text-messaging between hotel staff and patrons. She also oversaw the deployment of a cloud-based property management system that streamlines operations, and the implementation of enhanced security protocols.

With initiatives that enhance the guest experience, increase operational efficiency and reduce costs and liabilities, Tara Sparks is proving how to leverage technology in the hospitality industry.

SHANE HANSEN
HEALTHCARE & BIOTECH AWARD WINNER

Director of Information Technology for Thomson Instrument Company, Shane Hansen is credited with transforming the family-owned design and manufacturing company’s technological backbone, positioning it for growth and ensuring its ability to remain competitive.

With products and applications ranging from cell culture to analytical chemistry that empower research breakthroughs, their industry is fast-paced and technology-driven. Still, for nearly a decade, Shane has been fueling operational efficiency and profitability, boosting collaboration and productivity, and empowering the small but mighty team at Thomson to innovate better and faster.

So much so that arguably, Shane Hansen’s standout achievement is his oversight of Thomson’s expansion from one site to four and the doubling of its staff, throughout which and in spite of necessary upgrades and patches, he maintained an impressive 99% uptime and leveraged technology to the tune of 15% faster client response times, 30% higher productivity, and 40% fewer security incidents.

LISEL NEWTON
CYBERSECURITY AWARD WINNER

Executive Director of Security, Risk & Compliance for Gossamer Bio, Lisel Newton is charged with keeping the worldwide biotechnology company, developing a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, safe from cyberattacks of any kind. In so doing, she has not only strengthened the biotech’s cybersecurity posture, she’s set a new standard for cybersecurity excellence.

Among her initiatives, replacing outdated endpoints on some 300 devices to improve security and address performance issues, transitioning the company to a new SIEM system – without disruption, spearheading an extensive audit of all third-party vendors to validate their security practices, and revamping cybersecurity training – department by department – to focus on the “why” behind security practices and cultivate secure behaviors.

And the results of Lisel efforts are undeniable, including a 90% reduction in alert noise due to false-positives, a 44% increase in attack surface coverage, and reduced insurance premiums. Best of all, Lisel Newton has established a robust security foundation for Gossamer Bio’s continuing endeavors.

ALEX YURKOWSKI
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AWARD WINNER

Alex Yurkowski co-founded ClickUp in 2017, taking on the role of Chief Technology Officer, responsibile for creating an all-in-one productivity platform that would make the world more productive by saving time and improving workflow efficiency.

Integrating task management, document collaboration, and workflow automation, ClickUp also features such innovations as ClickUp AI for content summarization and generation, and ClickUp Chat for enhanced team communication. The scalable, unified approach streamlines operations and reduces the need for multiple applications.

And because Alex is at the helm, ClickUp has been developed by way of continuous improvement and a user-centric design approach, making it user-friendly indeed, and helping it to skyrocket in popularity. So much so, that with a current customer base of more than 100,000 entities and offices now in Dublin and Sydney, ClickUp is expected to reach $4B in revenue this year.

Which is to say that Alex Yurkowski is definitely realizing his vision to set new worldwide standards for productivity and collaboration tools.

JOHN MERRITT
COX COMMUNITY AWARD WINNER

John Merritt is Senior Vice President and CIO of The YMCA of San Diego County, where in his 33-year tenure, he has provided dedicated, innovative, transformative leadership.

Spearheading a comprehensive digital revamping and modernizing the Y’s mobile and web platforms, as well as fostering a culture of continuous learning and cross-departmental collaboration, John’s empowering approach encourages teams across the organization to share ownership, communicate openly, and embrace technology with confidence. His commitment to beneficial outcomes extends to both YMCA staff and members, but it doesn’t stop there.

As a driving force in the nonprofit technology community where he’s created a program to re-introduce essential technology-focused sessions, to his contributions to financial literacy and workforce readiness initiatives with Junior Achievement, John Merritt’s philosophy is one of mentorship that centers on fostering growth, building confidence and encouraging a lifelong commitment to service.

ABHIJEET GULATI
COX INNOVATION AWARD WINNER

Abhijeet Gulati joined Mitchell International in 2017 as a Senior IT Director, specifically to create and define a best-in-class Artificial Intelligence team for the provider of technology solutions, relied upon by more than 300 insurance providers, 20,000 collision repair facilities and 70,000 pharmacies to quickly and efficiently manage and process claims each month.

Under Abhijeet’s leadership, Mitchell’s Intelligence Solutions, consisting of four separate solutions, has differentiated it as a global leader in cloud computing, winning a 2023 Stratus Award. It’s Intelligent Damage Analyzer applies AI to vehicle repair. It’s Open Platform allows customers to choose their solution, and Mitchell’s Intelligent Estimating tool turns images of damaged vehicles into component-level estimate lines.

With additional solutions coming to market, including Intelligent Photo Capture, which ensures pictures of damaged vehicles can be used during an insurance claim, and Intelligent Triage, which determines within minutes whether a car is repairable or a total loss, Abhijeet Gulati and his team have been awarded numerous patents for their innovative AI solutions, and are enabling Mitchell International to process more than $25B in annual claims.

LOU SACCO
START-UP AWARD WINNER

Chief Operating Officer of DaisyHealth, Lou Sacco is not just about architecting solutions. He assembled a team that built a scalable, AI-driven platform, improving access to healthcare and simplifying insurance plan selection. In fact, DaisyHealth is a modern benefits SaaS platform and digital healthcare marketplace focused on making health insurance more efficient, accessible and affordable.

The software – available through a subscription model, includes a variety of digital health products, and solves the challenge of extracting meaning from unstructured PDF forms such as Summaries of Benefits Coverage, using a chatbot to offer personalized document-aware answers to users. Even better, the service includes a plan-comparison engine that empowers subscribers to evaluate insurance plans based on their own unique situation.

Lou Sacco’s introduction of DORA metrics to elevate engineering performance and adoption of user-story mapping to improve the user experience is building a culture of data-informed decision-making. His customer-first thinking, vision, strategy, and team-centric leadership approach are helping DaisyHealth address a major gap in healthcare.

JAYE CONNOLLY
SMALL-PRIVATE BUSINESS AWARD WINNER

Jaye Connolly’s RippleNami is a global technology company dedicated to solving complex public sector problems. With deployments of its platform, specializing in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data visualization throughout Africa, it is revolutionizing how governments connect with their citizens and generate internal income.

RippleNami digitizes such systems as property taxation, rental income compliance land use, and carbon credit traceability, enabling nations to monetize their environmental assets with integrity. It leverages the mass adoption of mobile phones to digitize vital government services for those who have otherwise been excluded, receiving global recognition for innovation in developing markets.

Jaye Connolly herself blends bold vision with battle-tested execution. More than a tech executive she’s a builder of nations, empowering middle incomes and local wealth without the need for handouts or aid, and equipping governments with tools and innovative technology to stand on their own.

 

JEFF SPATE
LARGE-PRIVATE BUSINESS AWARD WINNER

For managed service provider, Endsight, fostering partnerships with clients is a key initiative. The company offers a comprehensive range of technological services and supports more than 400 businesses across a number of industries. Its core values emphasize respect, connection, value, and heart-centric service, all represented stunningly by Senior Technical Account Manager, Jeff Spate.

With eighteen-plus years in the industry, Jeff has personally helped hundreds of companies, providing not only technical support, but also advocacy and care. Like a (client’s) full-time IT director, he sorts through the clients software, hardware, internet and phone vendors, reviewing contracts to ensure they’re getting the best long-term value for their outlay. He attends product demos, cuts through sales pitches, and negotiates on the clients’ behalf, removing the burden from staff so they can focus on their work.

“At home,” at Endsight, Jeff inserted himself into the new-customer onboarding process upon recognizing areas needing improvement. He volunteered to work with the engineers to redesign the process using already owned tools. And in so doing, Jeff Spate produced better quality client documentation and a 20% reduction in onboarding processing time.

 

ROBERTA FRENCH
PUBLIC BUSINESS AWARD WINNER

Roberta French is Vice President of IT for WD-40. In the role for just over a year, her contributions have already set a benchmark for driving technological transformation and operational excellence across the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions she serves.

Roberta’s migration of a new ERP system has streamlined processes and reduced inefficiencies, her cloud migration in China has enabled greater scalability and reliability, and her adoption and implementation of a new CRM platform is enhancing client engagement, forecasting accuracy, and overall customer satisfaction. She also led the streamlining and standardization of platforms worldwide, leading to enhanced reporting and better data-driven decision-making.

An accomplished and visionary servant leader with a proven track record and more than 25 years of experience leading IT, Roberta French’s initiatives represent an ability to leverage cutting-edge technology that drives organizational success and profitability.

 

ASOKAN ASHOK
TOP TECH OF THE YEAR

Asokan Ashok is the Owner & CEO of UnfoldLabs, a design and development firm specializing in custom software innovation that helps businesses modernize their operations, enhance customer service and drive growth and profitability.

Under his leadership, UnfoldLabs has released such notable innovations as the SecureME platform – an Andriod Kiosk mode solution to enhance device protection, privacy & user control, MyFamily – a parenting solution that enables families to create safer digital experiences for children, and MySecureME – a next-gen mobile device management system that empowers businesses to maintain operational efficiency.

In addition, Asokan and his team have another fifteen-plus products and solutions currently in development. His focus on AI, security and automation, and his lead-by-example, mentorship style have positioned UnfoldLabs as a preferred provider of cutting-edge technology solutions, and Asokan Ashok himself as a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs and technology leaders.