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2026 CIO of The Year Winners Announced!

The Pittsburgh Technology Council and our partners at the Greater Pittsburgh CIO Group are excited to announce the winners of the 2026 CIO of the Year and Tech Titan Awards.

This year, we expanded the program to recognize 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. The newly reimagined CIO of the Year & Tech Titan Awards honored a broader range of categories, celebrating the innovation, collaboration, and transformative accomplishments of tech professionals across all levels. From visionary executives to talented practitioners, we put a spotlight on the remarkable contributions shaping Pittsburgh’s thriving tech landscape.

CIO OF THE YEAR-TERABYTE       

Akash Khurana, Wesco International

Dr. Akash Khurana is Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Officer at Wesco International, where he leads global IT and digital organizations and drives enterprise-wide digital transformation. With more than 30 years of experience, Akash has held senior technology leadership roles at McDermott, Baker Hughes, and GE. At Wesco, he is leading a platform-led transformation that unifies operations, embeds governance and cybersecurity by design, and enables scalable growth. A Doctorate level scholar in digital transformation, AI, and cybersecurity, Akash is recognized for disciplined execution, responsible innovation, and developing high performing global teams. 

Finalists:

  • Jason Gerard, The Pittsburgh Paints Company
  • Charaka Kithulegoda, PNC Bank
  • Todd Porterfield, PJDick - Trumbull - The Lindy Group

CIO OF THE YEAR-GIGABYTE        

David Reed, Maxim Crane Works

David Reed is Chief Information Officer at Maxim Crane Works, where he is leading the organization’s evolution from a large business into a modern, scalable enterprise. With more than 20 years of IT experience, David brings a strong foundation in infrastructure and a strategic focus on integration, data, and operational excellence. Under his leadership, Maxim’s IT team has driven field digitization, improved enterprise reporting, and delivered measurable financial impact, earning a companywide collaboration award. A dedicated mentor and advocate for teamwork, David ensures technology remains a trusted partner in driving growth, efficiency, and long-term business success. 

Finalists:

  • John Astfalk, S&B USA
  • Bryan Bishop, Pyrotecnico / Live Events
  • Steve Blossom, ACA Group
  • Deepak Nayyar, Allegheny County Airport Authority

CISO OF THE YEAR 

Robert Kemp Senior Vice President, CISO, Federated Hermes 

Robert Kemp is a seasoned IT executive with over two decades of experience in information security, risk management, and IT leadership with a strong track record of driving technology strategies that enhance security and compliance. He has built and led corporate IT security organizations, developing structures, tools, and policies that minimize risk while meeting regulatory standards. Known for fostering collaboration across teams, Robert creates high-performing environments that improve productivity and innovation. As a strategic advisor, he ensures technology decisions align with business goals, helping organizations navigate complex challenges. With experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets, Robert has implemented cost-effective solutions that strengthen security and efficiency. His leadership continues to shape resilient and forwardthinking IT operations. He holds B.S. degrees in accounting and finance, and holds an MBA from Robert Morris University. He has held several industry certifications in the past: CISSP, CISM, and CISA Certificates. 

Finalists:

  • John Shaffer, Core Natural Resources, Inc.
  • Michael Tallent, Duquesne Light Company

CTO OF THE YEAR  

Christian Carmody, CTO, UPMC

Chris Carmody has been a health care technology leader within UPMC for more than two decades in a variety of roles. As CTO & Senior Vice President, he leads more than 1,700 IT professionals on the UPMC Bridges Project and IT Technology Shared Services including data centers, networks, cybersecurity, analytics, hospitalbased technology support, and enterprise applications. He also serves as a member of the Board of Clinical Connect Health Information Exchange, which he led as president for more than nine years. Chris also serves on the Greater Pittsburgh American Heart Association Board of Directors. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Westminster College, where he currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees. He earned both an MBA and masters degree in Information Systems Management from Robert Morris University. 

Finalists:

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

TECH TRAILBLAZER

Andrew Beers, Dream Invent Inspire, Inc.

For over two decades, Andrew Beers has defined what it means to be a Tech Trailblazer, consistently turning complex technical challenges into elegant, scalable solutions. His journey began by disrupting the digital loyalty landscape at LoyalTree, where he guided the platform’s evolution through its acquisition by SessionM and eventual integration into Mastercard. As VP of Engineering at Emporos, Andrew revolutionized pharmacy commerce, architecting cloud-native, API-first infrastructure that modernized patient payments. Never content with the status quo, Andrew is now harnessing the power of AI and robotics through his venture, The Forge of Creation. By developing "Plant Coach AI" and advanced hydroponic systems, he is creatively coding his way to a more sustainable future. Andrew’s career is a testament to his ability to master infrastructure, pioneer new technologies, and deliver impactful innovations that empower both industries and local communities. 

Finalists:

  • Colin Dean, Code & Supply Co.
  • Stefinie Kelley, Wabtec Corporation
  • Suresh Natarajan, FedEx

TECH TEAM OF THE YEAR 

PPG | Nominated by: Bhaskar Ramachandran, VP & CIO, PPG

In 2025, the team completed a landmark Cloud-Only transformation, successfully exiting eight global data centers and migrating or retiring more than 5,000 workloads, delivering over $4M in annual capital expense reductions, materially lowering environmental impact, and accelerating business agility. Through a security-by-design cloud self-service platform, automation at scale, embedded FinOps practices, and governed AI enablement, the team increased developer velocity by up to 80% while strengthening security, compliance, and cost transparency. Operating as a product-centric organization, the Cloud Platforms & Solutions team empowers PPG’s global businesses to innovate faster, scale responsibly, and confidently harness modern cloud and AI technologies— positioning PPG as a first-choice digital partner for its customers worldwide. 

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

RISING STAR

Brandon Diethorn, FedEx

Brandon Diethorn is a technology leader at FedEx overseeing application development and architecture for Shipment Operational Systems supporting the global supply chain. He leads cloud native modernization initiatives that deliver secure, scalable, and resilient platforms across integrated air and surface networks. As management sponsor of FedEx’s Route Optimization program, Brandon helped stabilize and deploy an enterprise routing solution that improved productivity, service performance, and operational consistency, laying the foundation for the Global Pickup and Delivery Ecosystem. Known for his collaborative leadership, he builds high-performing teams and AI ready solutions aligned to enterprise transformation. 

Finalists:

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

TECH FOR THE GOOD-COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD    

Andre Samuel, Ph.D., The Citizen Science Lab

Andre Samuel, a long-time resident of Washington, DC, graduated from the University of the District of Columbia with a degree in biology. Following graduate study at George Washington University in genomics and bioinformatics, he received his Ph.D. in biology from Duquesne University. At Duquesne, his research focused on studying the structure and function of the cold shock related proteins in E. coli. Dr. Samuel founded The Citizen Science Lab to introduce diverse communities to the life sciences with the long-term goal of encouraging the pursuit of careers in scientific research. Dr. Samuel’s research experience includes studying toxicology and carcinogenicity effects of novel drugs, hookworm vaccine development and tuberculosis reactivation in non-human primates. Dr. Samuel has a passion for STEM education and life science research. He believes that creating fun engaging and hands-on lab experiences is the best pathway to an interest in STEM. 

Finalists:

  • Lou Camerlengo, fivestar*
  • Kelsey Derringer, CodeJoy
  • Scott Dietz, Catalyst Connection
  • Jacqueline Foor, Consortium for Public Education
  • Aaron McKinnon, Phase 4 Learning Center
  • Terry Smith, M-PowerHouse of Greater Pittsburgh

CIO Choice

Mark Shozda CIO, F.N.B. (retired)

Mark Shozda is a highly respected technology executive with more than three decades of leadership in information technology within the financial services industry. Most recently, he served as Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer at F.N.B. Corporation, where he led enterprise-wide technology strategy, data management, information systems, and digital innovation initiatives supporting the organization’s growth and customer experience.

Prior to joining F.N.B., Mark held senior technology leadership roles at BNY Mellon, as well as earlier positions at PNC and Mellon Bank, building a career defined by strategic vision, operational excellence, and a commitment to secure and scalable technology solutions. Throughout his career, he has been recognized as a trusted leader known for aligning technology with business outcomes. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mark is deeply committed to education and community service.

He is a longstanding leader and advocate for the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Computing and Information, where he has served in multiple board and advisory roles, including Board Chair, and continues to mentor students and support the next generation of technology professionals.  Mark’s lasting impact on the CIO profession, his dedication to developing future leaders, and his distinguished career make him a fitting recipient of the 2026 CIO of the Year Choice Lifetime Achievement Award.