About Event

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The Pittsburgh Technology Council and our partners at the Greater Pittsburgh CIO & CISO Groups are excited to continue the evolution of the annual CIO of the Year Awards by again recognizing not only individual CIOs and CISOs, but also the outstanding achievements of their teams and the collective impact they’ve made in the world of technology.

This year’s theme, Source Code, celebrates the people behind the platforms, the thinkers behind the breakthroughs, and the leaders writing the next chapter of innovation. These finalists represent the human source powering Pittsburgh’s tech ecosystem—and we can’t wait to share their stories.

The CIO of the Year & Tech Titan Awards celebrate the innovation, collaboration, and transformative accomplishments of tech professionals across all levels. From visionary executives to talented practitioners, we’re shining a spotlight on the remarkable contributions shaping Pittsburgh’s thriving tech landscape.

Join us for an evening of inspiration as we celebrate the dynamic leaders, forward-thinking teams, and groundbreaking innovations driving Pittsburgh's technology sector to new heights. This is a unique opportunity to come together and honor the people and organizations that are not only advancing technology but also making a lasting impact on our community.

Guests will enjoy a night of inspiring stories, networking opportunities, and a celebration of excellence in the ever-evolving world of technology. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this distinguished event—and an exciting chapter in celebrating local excellence—as we honor the leaders, trailblazers, rising stars, and teams who are redefining the future of technology in Pittsburgh and beyond at the 2026 CIO of the Year & Tech Titan Awards on Thursday, April 16!

When: Thursday, April 16, 2026

Where: The Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh | 1000 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Agenda:
VIP Reception (Invitation-only): 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (INVITATION-ONLY FOR FINALISTS AND SPONSORS)
Technology Showcase & General Cocktail Reception: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Dinner & Awards Ceremony: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Networking: 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Cost:
MEMBER
~~Early Bird | $230~~
Regular | $260
Late | $300

Table of 10:
~~Early Bird | $1,800~~
Regular | $2,000
Late | $2,100

NON-MEMBER
~~Early Bird | $435~~
Regular | $495
Late | $550

Table of 10:
~~Early Bird | $2,450~~
Regular | $2,650
Late | $2,900

*Early Bird pricing ended March 26, 2026

2026 CIO of the Tear and Tech Titan Awards Finalists

CIO CHOICE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT

Mark Shozda

CIO OF THE YEAR-TERABYTE

Jason Gerard, The Pittsburgh Paints Company
Akash Khurana, Wesco International
Charaka Kithulegoda, PNC Bank
Todd Porterfield, PJDick - Trumbull - The Lindy Group

CIO OF THE YEAR-GIGABYTE

John Astfalk, S&B USA
Bryan Bishop, Pyrotecnico / Live Events
Steve Blossom, ACA Group
Deepak Nayyar, Allegheny County Airport Authority
David Reed, Maxim Crane Works

CISO OF THE YEAR

Robert Kemp, Federated Hermes
John Shaffer, Core Natural Resources, Inc.
Michael Tallent, Duquesne Light Company

CTO OF THE YEAR

Christian Carmody, UPMC
Scott Phelps, Pittsburgh Steelers
Carlonda Reilly Ph.D., Kennametal Inc
Sean Ways, eHealth Technologies

TECH TRAILBLAZER

Andrew Beers, Dream Invent Inspire, Inc.
Colin Dean, Code & Supply Co.
Stefinie Kelley, Wabtec Corporation
Suresh Natarajan, FedEx

TECH TEAM OF THE YEAR

David Christopher, Brentwood Bank
Anmol Misra, Gecko Robotics
Deepak Nayyar, Allegheny County Airport Authority
Bhaskar Ramachandran, PPG
David Reed, Maxim Crane Works

RISING STAR

Ryan DiAngelo, Brentwood Bank
Brandon Diethorn, FedEx
Seth Graham, University of Pittsburgh
Stephen Solada, Armada
Peter Zuidema, OpenArc LLC

TECH FOR THE GOOD-COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD

Lou Camerlengo, fivestar*
Kelsey Derringer, CodeJoy
Scott Dietz, Catalyst Connection
Jacqueline Foor, Consortium for Public Education
Aaron McKinnon, Phase 4 Learning Center
Andre Samuel, Ph.D., The Citizen Science Lab
Terry Smith, M-PowerHouse of Greater Pittsburgh

Contact Information:

For registration questions – Lauren Lowen, Event Coordinator, llowen@pghtech.org
For sponsorship questions – Ashley Steckel, VP, Business Development, asteckel@pghtech.org
For membership questions – Brooke Wozniak, Business Development Manager, bwozniak@pghtech.org