Judges
JUDGING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS
Stacie Hyatt
President & CEO, SL Partners & SACL
Stacie is a corporate executive, published author and dedicated advocate for health tech, education and humanitarian causes. She has worked for industry giants including Medtronic and St. Jude Medical, as well as successful early stage and start-up companies - primarily in the cardiac, transplant, neuroscience and wellness disciplines. Her geographic experience spans the globe, while being physically located in either the US or Europe. From a functional perspective, Stacie’s areas of responsibility cover engineering & product development, sales & marketing, fundraising & shareholder management, technical support, operations and general management. In addition to involvement in professional organizations such as the American Collage of Health Executives, she has served on several educational and charitable non-profit organizations and boards, often as president/chairman, including the Industry Advisory Board to the Department of Bioengineering at Texas A&M, the Advisory Council for the Salvation Army, the Executive Women’s Roundtable and The Wharton Club of DFW among others. With regard to the Tech Titans, Stacie’s commitment spans serving on the Board of Directors, as a Tri-Chair for the Health Tech Forum, as a member of the Board Nominating Committee among several other committees, as a Tech Titans Award Judge five times, and now as a Tech Titans Awards Judge Co-Chair for the second year. She earned her bachelor's degree in bioengineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
John Randall
CEO, Zyvex Labs
John N. Randall, CEO of Zyvex Labs, Executive VP of Teliatry, Executive VP at NanoRetina, Adjunct Professor at UT Dallas, and Fellow of the AVS, IEEE, and Micro Nano Engineering Society, has 38 years of experience in Micro- and Nano- Fabrication. He has attracted over $45M in research contracts to Zyvex and resulting products have grossed over $100M. He joined Zyvex in March of 2001 after 15 years at Texas Instruments where he was elected Distinguished Member of Technical Staff and worked in high resolution processing for integrated circuits, MEMS, and quantum effect devices and was assigned for 2 years to work at IMEC where he developed a taste for Belgian beer and chocolate. Prior to working at TI, John worked at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory on ion beam and x-ray lithography. He has 119 articles published in refereed journals, more than 50 conference proceedings and other publications with 4489 citations and 34 issued US Patents with 972 citations.
2023 JUDGES
Sumit Anand
Chief Information and Strategy Officer, At Home Group Inc.
Sumit Anand currently serves as At Home’s Chief Information Officer and Chief Strategy Officer. Under his leadership, At Home has made significant progress on its Business Strategy and Transformation (At Home 2.0) initiatives, technology modernization and enabled new eCommerce selling channel(s).
Prior to joining At Home in 2018, Mr. Anand was the Senior Vice President of Information Technology from 2015 to 2018 at Signet Jewelers, a large specialty jewelry retailer with over 3,000 stores, in United States, Canada and United Kingdom. In that role, Mr. Anand was responsible for leading the Technology Modernization and Organizational Transformation initiative across 8 global brands and several capability areas, including stores, e-commerce, digital, omni-channel, supply chain, analytics, merchandizing, HR and finance.
Mr. Anand also previously served as an executive in Accenture’s Digital Retail Practice from 2007 to 2015. He was the Strategy Client Account Lead (CAL) for one of Accenture’s largest Global Retail client and worked with various national and international retail organizations including Best Buy, Walgreens, Neiman Marcus around their Corporate Strategy, International Expansion, Digital and Technology Transformation and M&A initiatives. Mr. Anand received his MS – Information Systems from University of Colorado.
Mr. Anand was the Enterprise Winner of the 2020 Dallas CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards, finalist for the 2021 National CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards and was also named to the D CEO Dallas 500 Most Influential Leaders in North Texas.
Mr. Anand is an avid runner and has completed 3 of the 6 Abbott World Marathon Majors along with several half-marathons.
Brenda Boehm
Head of Strategic Alliances, Dell Technologies
Highly accomplished C-level and board executive that combines her business acumen with her technical industry expertise in advanced next generation networks, security, big data, analytics, edge, and internet of things technologies to provide executive strategic leadership, innovative consulting, advisory leadership, and board governance. She drives organization and digital transform for companies which leverages today’s technologies for new products and services, operational efficiencies, and global market reach that significantly impacts their corporate bottom line.
Brenda’s deep industry expertise is based upon her successful leadership roles at both the executive and board leadership levels with various innovation-focused technology companies from entrepreneurial start-ups: Starent Networks, Tango Networks, and Cyphre to Fortune 100 leaders: Dell Technologies, Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks, Alcatel-Lucent and Nokia. This uniquely broad set of experiences and skills have equipped her with the insight to create a market vision that recognizes industry disruption, an ability to harness change for innovation, develop global market reach, and ensure the most successful secure operational best practices.
Brenda is a member of the University of Texas Institute for Excellence for Corporate Governance (IECG) and Private Directors Association. She was nominated as top ten women in technology by Dallas Business Journal. She has served on the governance board for Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, and the advisory board for EWF International.
Brenda has experience serving in governance and advisory board leadership with: PROLIM, Red Mountain Scientific, Amazech, Cypher, Tango Communications, and IoT Community.
Academic Background:
Carnegie Mellon Chief Information Security Officer Certificate
Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Stanford Advanced Computer Security Certificate
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Stanford Executive Program
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Master of Science in Telecommunications Management
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
Bachelor of Business Administration – Computer Information Systems
Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe, LA
Amy Czuchlewski
SVP of Technology, Blue Label Labs
Amy Czuchlewski is a former head of technology at Nickelodeon (Noggin), Bottle Rocket and Blue Label Labs. She has over 20 years of experience building consumer facing applications, starting with the first phone to ever have downloadable apps (Motorola i1000+ in 1999). She's led engineering teams from 20 to 150 people, which have implemented mobile and web applications for over 100 Fortune 500 and start-up companies. In her free time, Amy sits on the Board of Directors at Bold Idea, an organization that pairs technology companies with Dallas-area schools to provide hands-on computer programming mentors for students. She's also a founding member of The Turtle Project, where she works with her daughter to raise awareness about sea turtle conservation. Amy has been honored for her work with the CTO of the Year award from D CEO in 2016, the Women in Technology Luminary award from Technology Ball in 2020, and she was a finalist for the Corporate CTO award from Tech Titans in 2020. She has a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Bill Dyer
VP of Product & Engineering, Connected Vehicle Services, SiriusXM
Bill Dyer is a passionate builder and leader of great software products and teams. He is currently the VP of Product & Engineering for Connected Vehicle Services at SiriusXM. Bill is a recognized expert in Internet of Things (IoT), device management, customer experience management (CEM), analytics and networking with extensive experience identifying new market opportunities and developing new business.
Bruce Gnade, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, University of Texas at Dallas
Bruce Gnade received his BA in Chemistry from St. Louis University in 1976 and his Ph.D. in Nuclear Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1982. He is Professor Emeritus at UT Dallas and Chief Scientist at Mustang Optics. He was the Executive Director of the Hart Center for Engineering Leadership in the Lyle School of Engineering at SMU from 2017-2022, the Vice President for Research and the Distinguished Chair in Microelectronics at UT Dallas from 2006-2016, and a program manager in the Microsystems Technology Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) from 1996-1999. At Texas Instruments he led several research and technology groups from 1982-1996. His current research interests focus on electronics for harsh environments and using optical techniques to solve problems. He is a Fellow of APS, IEEE, and National Academy of Inventors, and was Chair of the Board of Directors of Oak Ridge Associated Universities from 2020-2022. He was awarded the 2021 IEEE J.J. Ebers award.
Maria Lensing
Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Walgreen Boots Alliance
Maria is responsible for developing McKesson’s technology stack vision, strategy and architecture that is fundamental to their future business portfolio for data and digital technologies. Her responsibilities also include a strong focus on engineering design and operational excellence to optimize current performance levels.
Maria is focused on empowering McKesson solutions through the capabilities of the technology platform that her team develops and sustains. Maria drives technological and health modernization through large-scale transformative initiatives.
Additionally, Maria is active in promoting minority inclusion in business, STEM education, and female empowerment programs. Maria has received vast recognition for her work including the 2021 Corporate CTO of the year by Tech Titans, 2021 HITEC 100 Award as one of the 100 most influential Hispanic leaders in technology, “2019 Woman in Business” award by the Dallas Business Journal.
Xiaolin Lu
Director and Fellow, Texas Instruments Kilby Labs
Xiaolin is Fellow and director of Texas Instruments Kilby Labs Sensing & Processing Group responsible for R&D on connected sensors, embedded AI, timing and clocking technologies for industrial internet and automobile applications. She is chartered to drive various differentiated semiconductor system level solutions using TI differentiated analog and embedded processors, connectivity, mixed signal components and power management devices.
Xiaolin has worked on various embedded processing and communication system programs, including Smart Sensing with edge computing, Intelligent Industrial Internet Sensor Network systems, embedded AI, Narrow Band Power Line Communication Systems, Narrow band and Broadband Wireless and Wired Communication Technologies, Smart Power IPs, Universal MAC for broadband IP, LTE/Wimax Prototypes, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth co-existence and digital mobile TV SoC, etc.
Xiaolin is well-known as an embedded system and software expert inside and outside TI and has given keynote and plenary talks at numerous technical conferences. In addition, she is the author/co-author of more than 60 U.S. issued patents and the recipient of the special recognition awards: 2016 Asian American Engineer of the Year, Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and National Women of Color award in the Technical Innovation – Industry category.
Xiaolin is United Way Tocqueville member for community services. In her free time, Xiaolin enjoys yoga practice, playing piano, listening to classical music and leisure travel.
Garyld Miles
VP of Operations & Engineering, The Realtime Group
Mr. Miles has over 30 years of R&D experience in Systems, Embedded Electronics, and Software/Firmware, most of which is in the medical device industry. His background is in medical device compliance; mission critical, real-time embedded hardware and software product development, and has co-developed more than 80 medical device or industrial control systems. His current focus is Systems Engineering, Usability, Program Management, and Regulatory Compliance through application of requirements analysis, safety assessments, safety architecture, risk and hazard analysis, FME(C)A, FTA, and system and software reliability. This includes technical responsibility for CE Mark, FCC, UL, EMI/EMC, and other safety and environmental certifications.
Mr. Miles has been the featured speaker at industry conferences, training sessions, and discussion groups on the topics of Requirements Engineering, Medical Device Risk Management, Medical Device Cybersecurity, Product and Software Development Lifecycle, Software Quality, and Medical Device Regulatory Compliance.
At Tech Titans, Mr. Miles has served as Tri-Chair of the Health Tech Forum for several years and served as a Tech Titans Board Member. He is an ASQ Certified Software Quality Engineer (CSQE) and has served as ASQ Biomedical Discussion Group, Program Chair for the DFW section.
Mr. Miles holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Sherif Mityas
CEO, BRIX Holdings
Sherif Mityas has more than 25 years’ experience in the retail and hospitality sectors in both senior consulting and executive industry roles. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the BRIX Brands portfolio, a leading restaurant investment group with over 300 locations across multiple brands including Friendly’s, Red Mango, Orange Leaf, Smoothie Factory+Kitchen, Pizza Jukebox and SouperSalad.
Prior to his current role, Sherif served as the Chief Experience Officer for TGI FRIDAYS with oversight for the Brand’s Strategy, Marketing, Innovation, and Digital efforts and as the Chief Executive Officer for Hollywood Video/Movie Gallery.
Mr. Mityas received a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering from Boston University, a M.S. in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and an M.B.A. from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
Robert Pace
VP, Information Security & CISO, Invitation Homes
Robert is the Vice President, Information Security and CISO for Invitation Homes. He is responsible for leading the Information Security program for Invitation Homes. Responsibilities include establishing a sound security strategy, governance, operations, service delivery, business integration and end-user awareness training.
Robert’s career spans over 20 years in leading global teams in the delivery of IT Security operations. Robert has been influential in the leadership, design of security operations and delivery at First American Payment Systems, Dell Services, Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co., Bell Helicopter, Textron and Ameritech. Robert also has significant consulting experience with Fortune 500 clients, on IT Security and Risk Management while working at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Robert has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Michigan State University and a Master of Science Degree from Walsh College of Business and Accountancy. Robert has completed the Cybersecurity: Managing Risk in the Information Age at Harvard and the Executive Leadership Program at Thunderbird - Gavin School of International Management. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO), ITILv3 and a Certified Six-Sigma Green Belt.
Paola Saibene
Principal, Resultant (Formerly Teknion Data Solutions)
Paola Saibene has dedicated 25 years to IT, having been a Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, VP of Enterprise Risk Management, and former Global Privacy Officer. She has spent her career working in large, multi-billion-dollar organizations with global scope, and she has received multiple awards for innovation & digital transformation. She has also received a Governor’s commendation for her cybersecurity initiatives. Paola has led many large scale technology strategy and operations initiatives to modernize IT, while designing approaches that sustain governance, cybersecurity, contextual data privacy, compliance, and overall risk management at the core of such initiatives.
Presently, Paola is a Principal Consultant at Teknion Data Solutions, focusing on data governance. She is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University (D.C.), the Panamerican Business School (ENAE from Spain), and Dallas Baptist University (Texas), where she has founded the Center of Excellence in Digital Ethics.
She holds a M.S. in Psychology, M.A. in Literature & Linguistics, and a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, having practiced as a psychologist in multiple environments, and having taught Literature & Linguistics, prior to her career as a technologist.
Stacy Scott
Partner, EY-Parthenon
Stacy is a Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Strategy and Transactions practice focused on guiding organizations through M&A transaction planning and execution using practical technology and cyber security strategies. Prior to joining EY-Parthenon, Stacy worked as a Managing Director in Kroll’s cyber risk practice. She led the founding of the firm’s Security Advisory Services and served as global strategy leader for cyber practice. She joined Kroll after founding and operating her own consultancy.
In addition, Stacy has served in high-profile roles with a leading cyber security consulting firm, a Big Four accounting firm, and the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas. She has built a successful track record of developing and implementing strategic information security initiatives that help organizations better safeguard data, manage risk, and enhance business operations. She has proven experience in bridging the technical conversations into business impact discussions at the executive-level and board.
Stacy has been featured in the Wall Street Journal 3 times among a myriad of cyber, technology, and business publications; shared her expertise at large technology and risk conferences such as RSA Conference, TrendMicro CloudSec, and HIMSS; she was also a panelist at Bloomberg’s Sooner Than You Think Technology Summit in New York.
Barry Shurkey
CIO, NTT DATA Systems
As the CIO for NTT DATA Services since 2017, Barry is responsible for the digital transformation and optimizing the IT roadmap to support NTT DATA and its clients. Previously, he was a senior vice president overseeing the company’s IT agreements during the acquisition of Dell Services. Prior to that, he guided TxDOT’s (Texas Department of Transportation) IT transformation. With more than 35 years of experience in the IT services industry, Barry has also worked abroad in Australia on the largest outsourcing deal of its time. He has held leadership roles with EDS, HP, Vertex Business Solutions and Travelport.
Barry is a passionate and active leader in our company and the community and an advocate for social equity and many diversity and inclusion initiatives. At NTT DATA Services, Barry actively participates in several of our Employee Resource Groups. Barry often speaks in panel discussions and community events and is the Chairperson for the DFW Alliance of Technology and Women (ATW) Advisory Board. He is also a member of the Inspire Dallas CIO Advisory Board, Tech Titans Executive Committee and Evanta Dallas CIO Governing Board.
He was awarded the 2018 Corporate CIO Tech Titan award, 2019 D Magazine CIO of the Year Award, 2019 ORBIE CIO of the Year Award, Constellation's 2020 and 2022 Business Transformation 150 (BT150) and for three years in a row, named to the 2020 D CEO Dallas 500 most powerful business leaders. Barry was also a finalist for the 2021 National Global Orbie.
Barry received a bachelor’s in Management Information Systems and a minor in Computer Science at Central Michigan University. As an executive, he also attended the London School of Business and Thunderbird Global Executive programs.
Deep Sogani
VP & Chief of Enterprise Data, Virgin Pulse
Deep Sogani has over two decades of experience as a Data Analytics leader in industries as varied as healthcare and wellness, supply-chain, home security & automation, insurance, and retail. He is an expert in aligning information management with business insights and measurable outcomes. Deep is a leader in building end to end integrated data pipelines that deliver actionable data to customers to facilitate timely and informed business decisions. Deep Sogani navigates complex Big Data, Multi-Cloud environments and provides insights leveraging technology in Data Science, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Artificial Intelligence. He is known for connecting the dots between Data Management, Analytics, and Business Value. Over the years Deep has owned and delivered complex agile enterprise-data programs within budget and on time by aligning cross-functional project management teams.
As the head of enterprise data at Virgin Pulse, Deep leads over 100 team members in building the data platform for world’s number #1 health and wellbeing solution with millions of global members, in transforming their life journeys every day, making the company’s mission of “Changing lives for Good” a reality.
Additionally, Deep is quite active in the technology leadership circles. He is an organizing committee member of Texas CDO Roundtable, Executive Host of Technology Ball, and an Information Systems Advisory Board Member of University of Texas at Dallas.
Amir Tabei
CIO, Dallas Museum of Art
Amir has been managing technology departments for the past 34 years with diverse corporate and nonprofit backgrounds. He serves as Chief Information Officer at the Dallas Museum of Art. Amir Tabei is a focused and passionate leader with an award-winning career driving business success through technical expertise, proactive problem-solving, and long-range strategic planning. Proven skills in the planning and launching of IT infrastructures, ERP and Supply Chain Management systems, eCommerce, and Web Applications. Strong capacity to reinforce IT governance and ensure compliance with critical security practices. Outstanding ability to meet the ever-changing needs of the business, including its clients, budget, and personnel, while still incorporating the human element. Educator and proponent of technology within corporate and non-profit-driven entities and groups.
2023 APPLICATION ADVOCATES
Joe Beard
Co-Founder and CEO, CollateralEdge
I am the Co-Founder & CEO of CollateralEdge, a Dallas-based, fintech platform that provides banks with a flexible, automated sales enablement solution to efficiently increase lending capacity without compromising credit quality. My diverse career across the military, technology, investment banking and venture capital has prepared me to be an entrepreneur.
Former Partner at Perot Jain, a Dallas-based venture capital firm. Led 40+ investments in 5 years including: Booster Fuels, Pickup, Abundant Robotics, Bioz, Spacee, Bestmile, Jobiak, Shiftsmart, and Hypergiant. Founder and Board Member of Venture Dallas, the premier venture capital conference in the DFW region. Recipient of the Tech Titans Investment Catalyst Award.
Spent 8 years as an investment banker in New York and Dallas. Executed approximately $10 billion in transactions across M&A, debt and equity.
I am a proud graduate and supporter of all things West Point!
David Daniel
President Emeritus, The University of Texas at Dallas
Dr. David E. Daniel is President Emeritus of The University of Texas at Dallas. He earned BS, MS, and PhD degrees in civil engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, and served on the faculty at UT Austin from 1981 to 1996. His research focused on environmental controls for contaminated land and groundwater. From 1996 until 2005, he served as Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and then as Dean of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. From 2005 to 2015 he served as President of The University of Texas at Dallas. From 2015 to 2018 he served as Deputy Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer of The University of Texas System in Austin. Honors include the Normal Medal, Croes Medal, Middlebrooks Award, Presidents Award, Opal Award for Education, Terzaghi Lecture, and Geotechnical Hero’s Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 2000.
Tricia D'Cruz
Co-founder and Managing Director, Catalyze Dallas
Tricia D’Cruz is co-founder and Managing Director of Catalyze Dallas, a private equity company that commercializes promising innovations sourced from the world’s most respected defense and industrial companies. Ms. D’Cruz serves as Executive Chairman of Metro Aerospace, a leading innovator of additively manufactured aerospace solutions that improve aircraft performance and reduce carbon emissions. She is also on the board of Alpine Advanced Materials, a cutting edge nanocomposite solutions company for light-weighting aerospace, defense and space components. Ms. D’Cruz has been a leader to growing high technology companies for over 30 years, spanning global P&L leadership with Siemens and Tekelec as well as high growth of startup ventures including Efficient Networks from early stage through IPO and subsequent sale for $1.5B.
Valerie Freeman
CEO, BravoTech & Freeman+Leonard
Valerie Freeman is the Founder and CEO of a group of specialized companies whose services include staffing, search outsourcing and consulting, operating under the names, Imprimis Group, BravoTech, Freeman+Leonard and ANSERteam. Over the years, the companies have been named to the Inc. 500/5000, Dallas 100, WPO Fast 50 and Cougar 100 (Univ. of Houston) and Women’s Business Enterprise of the Year. In 2021 Valerie was inducted into the JA Business Hall of Fame and also received the Women Paying It Forward Award from Women Leading Technology. In 2020, Valerie received the Orbie Leadership Award from the Dallas CIO Assn. and was inducted into the Tech Titans Hall of Fame. Previously she was inducted into the Women’s Business Enterprise Hall of Fame and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the Alliance of Technology and Women and the Dallas Business Journal’s Women in Technology. She was also in DCEO Dallas 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders publication several times and was named to the Power 50 Women in Dallas by the Texas Diversity Council. She is a former Chair of the Board of the Girl Scouts of NETexas where she also received their Woman of Distinction Award. She has been a winner of the Tech Titans Community Hero Award and also the Investment Catalyst Award (as co-founder of Texas Women Ventures). She has been an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year winner and a NAWBO National Woman Business Owner of the Year.
Valerie was one of the Founders of the Texas Women Ventures family of funds, the first fund of its kind in Texas to invest in women owned companies. The fund made its first investment in 2005, and is now winding down its third and final fund.
She serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Prime Women Media which publishes www.primewomen.com, an online publication for professional women over the age of 50 which has been named as one of the top 100 Best Blogs and Websites for women. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Truist Bank and the Advisory Council for the Alliance of Technology and Women. Currently she serves on the Board of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Dallas Assembly, YPO, and the International Women’s Forum. Valerie holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education from the University of Houston where she was honored as a Distinguished Alum.
Lin O'Neill
CEO and Founder, O'Neill Enterprises
A graduate of Texas Woman’s University and the Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business and Management, Lin possesses broad expertise in operations and human resources, coupled with an exceptional knowledge of organizational behavior. This skill set served her well in her role as a vice president (and the first woman corporate officer) for Continental Airlines, where she managed several thousand employees and led the Inflight Services Division through reorganization and realignment.
She has helped Fortune 100 clients turn around faltering departments and projects by providing an unbiased assessment of their processes, staff and business climate and assisting them in making the tough decisions necessary to improve their bottom line.
Lin is also expert at assisting entrepreneurs who want to transform a start-up into a sustainable company, or expand a small business into a larger corporation. By helping owners identify more efficient business processes, creating powerful cross-functional teams, and/or improving their manufacturing or other cost structure issues, she provides a path to transformation that is workable, creative, and energizing.
Jason Story
Consultant, Objectif Group
Trude Van Horn
SVP & CIO, NCH Corporation
Gertrude G. Van Horn is the Chief Information Officer at NCH Corporation - a $1 B, privately held, global leader in industrial, commercial, and institutional maintenance products and services with locations in more than 50 countries. Trude leads NCH’s IT Team of 100 + technology professionals based primarily in the Dallas Metroplex area, along with staff located in the UK, Europe and Asia. This remarkable IT team supports a very diverse portfolio of growing NCH businesses, products and services and enables NCH global opportunities for growth and efficiency.
Trude has a professional history of driving results, challenging the norm, and transforming performance. She brings a wide variety of IT skill and leadership expertise to the CIO role, strong executive communication skills, a passion for driving business value, time for coaching and mentoring the next generation of leaders, and a desire for giving back to the community. She is fanatical about developing leaders and speaks on the topic often. Before coming to NCH, Trude held roles in Technology Leadership at American Express, JP Morgan, Jo-Ann Stores, Office Depot, Haggar Clothing Company and Victoria’s Secret.
NCH is unique in that it is one of the largest companies in the world to sell through personal, direct sales. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, NCH was founded in 1919 and has more than 8,500 global employees, and branch offices, sales and manufacturing in more than 50 countries. Trude joined NCH in January of 2011. Under her leadership, the NCH IT team has a strong track record of global achievement, reliable execution, innovative solutions, IT cost savings and cost avoidance.
Accomplishments include:
- Global deployment of Oracle in more than 35 countries across Europe, Asia and North America
- Global development and roll-out of proprietary sales tools unique to each region
- Cloud migration hosting and disaster recovery for multiple instances of Oracle
- Significant security infrastructure and technology changes to support GDPR, data protection, compliance
- New external Firewalls, Internal Firewalls, Security Zones, Hyper converged infrastructure, Zerto for improved resiliency for virtual servers
- Global CRM deployment to over 1000 global sales associates using Salesforce Force.com technology
- Robotic Process Automation initiatives – currently underway
Born and raised outside Philadelphia, Trude received her BBA from Temple University in 1988.
Honors, affiliations and community involvement:
- 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Dallas CIO of the Year - Nominee
- Dallas CIO – Vice Chair
- CIO Dallas - Governing Body
- Rimini Street – Global Client Advisory Board Chair
- DFW Alliance for Technology & Women (ATW) – Governing Board
- Society for Information Management (SIM) – Member
- Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club – Board of Governors
- The Study - Irving Innovation Center - Advisory Board
- Greater Irving - Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce - Exec Board and Tech Leadership Committee Chair
Advice:
- Work for someone you admire, work with people you trust, and hire people who are smarter than you!
Hobbies:
- Golf
Hubert Zajicek
CEO, Co-founder & Partner, Health Wildcatters
Hubert Zajicek, MD, MBA, is CEO & Co-founder of Health Wildcatters, a top ranked healthcare accelerator and fund in Dallas, TX. Health Wildcatters provides mentorship, capital and guidance to up to 12 healthcare related startups during an intensive 3 month program, annually. The fund has invested in 88 healthcare startups, which have attracted over $200M in capital in about 8 years. Dr. Zajicek has extensive experience with startups and is an active speaker, panelist and thought leader on healthcare startups, entrepreneurship, financing & healthcare. He serves as advisor, mentor and board member on various organizations and startup companies.
In March of 2020, Dr. Zajicek started the Health Hacking Crisis Network (HHCN), a non-profit organization that engages in bringing together a rapid reaction force to deal with acute problems arising in healthcare due to COVID-19. The organization has over 500 volunteer members and has supported the creation of a variety of initiatives that had a big impact on the North Texas region and beyond.
Prior to Health Wildcatters and the creation of HHCN, he was managing director – medical technology at NTEC (North Texas Enterprise Center), where he ran what eventually became the Southwest’s largest medtech investment conference, showcasing startups that attracted in excess of $300M. Prior, he was on faculty at UT Southwestern, as an NIH funded principal investigator, in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Cell Biology. He has an MD from the University of Vienna and an MBA from SMU. He lives in Dallas with his wife, Beth McNally Zajicek, MD and two daughters.
PAST JUDGES
Mignona Cote
SVP and CSO, NetApp Inc.
As Chief Security Officer, Mignona Cote provides leadership, strategic direction and oversight for NetApp’s IT and product security. Mignona has served in chief information security officer roles and has a demonstrated history across insurance, healthcare, and large financial institutions. She is skilled in cybersecurity, enterprise risk management, vulnerability management, internal audit, IT strategy, and leadership.
Offering over 25 years of securing and improving technical operations for companies like AWS, AIG, Aetna, Bank of America, PepsiCo, and Verizon Communications, she has led the development and execution of security solutions that improve international and global networks. Her background encompasses payments within health savings and bank card services, securing transactions, and preventing fraud.
She is a strong technology professional with an MBA focused in business and accounting from Louisiana State University in Shreveport, and undergraduate degrees in both computer information systems and Spanish.
Romelia Flores
Distinguished Engineer & Master Inventor, IBM Industry Engineering Lab
Romelia’s industry experiences combined with her unique software development and design expertise make her Global Markets’ most highly sought-after innovator. She has collaborated with leading clients in the design of Space Object Analytics, Health & Human Services, Storm Water Management, Cloud Platforms, Hepatitis C Eradication, and Airports of the Future. She holds 83 US patents and 10 patents pending. In 2021 she received the Dallas Business Journal’s Women in Business Award. In 2018, she was the first female ever named to the Dallas Tech Titans Hall of Fame and was the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award winner from Great Minds in STEM.
Matt Glover
CTO, Le-Vel
Matt Glover is a military veteran and a technology executive with 32 years of industry experience. He is the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) for Le-Vel, a mid-market health and wellness company in Frisco, Texas.
He has been honored by his peers by being selected as a finalist as Tech Titans Corporate CTO of the Year for two years in a row (2016 and 2017).
He serves as Chairman of the Business Industry Leadership Team for the National Convergence Technology Center. The center is responsible for guiding the curriculum for more than 80 colleges nationally to make work force ready students in STEM related fields.
Mr. Glover was previously the CIO for AMX, a global hi-tech company. Prior to that he served as Senior Vice President of Technology at Bank of America and has helped lead technology for industry giants like HP, Intuit, and MetLife. Formerly a member of the CTO Roundtable at the White House whose mission was designed to build the “Tech Hire” initiative nationwide. This initiative was focused on pathways for non-degreed citizens to move into STEM fields.
Mr. Glover holds seven degrees, spanning Management, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Finance, Accounting, Marketing and Economics. He attended George Washington University in D.C. and Hawaii Pacific University in Hawaii. In addition to his college education he earned a Journeyman as an Electronic Technician while serving his country.
He started his technology career on Fast Attack Submarines and served his country with distinction for nearly ten years; spending nearly five years of his life under water.
Greg Head
Founder of Gregslist.com, Host of Practical Founders Podcast
Greg Head is a 30-year software industry veteran who was part of the startup-to-scale journeys of three different software companies in the CRM industry, including one IPO. He is now an active mentor, advisor, podcaster, and investor helping founders of software startups all over the world.
He is the founder of Gregslist.com, his curated and up-to-date list of local software companies and SaaS jobs. Gregslist is now available for tech communities in Phoenix, Dallas,, and 10 other cities. Greg also is host of the weekly Practical Founders Podcast where he interviews successful founders who grew valuable software companies without big funding.
Greg and his wife live in the Dallas area. They spent 23 years in Phoenix before returning to her
hometown in Texas in 2019.
Website Links
• Gregslist - https://gregslist.com/
• Practical Founders Podcast - https://practicalfounders.com
Rishi Khanna
Founder and CEO, ISHIR, Co-Founder and CEO, ENO8
Rishi Khanna is an impact-driven entrepreneur and high growth CEO of specialized companies in the outsourcing and digital innovation industries. For over two decades, Rishi has successfully implemented strategic outsourcing and offshore/nearshore/rural shore programs in IT, Software Development, QA, Cloud, Mobile/IoT, AI, AI Annotations, DevOps, BPO/KPO and Digital Marketing functions.
Over the years, Rishi’s companies have been named to the Inc. 5000, Inc. 100 in Texas, Dallas 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies, Fort Worth’s Fastest Growing Companies, Best Places to Work, and Fast 100 Asian American Business Awards. Rishi is also a two-time Entrepreneur of Excellence Finalist Honoree.
Taking a hands-on approach as CEO, Rishi has a professional history of not only driving impactful business results, but also guiding, mentoring, and assisting others to follow their passion and unique ability.
Paul Lopez
VP, Technology Development, UnitedHealth Group
Paul Lopez is a 25+ year technology veteran whose career has spanned multiple disciplines such as IT modernization, AI & machine learning, agile software development, semiconductors, networking and all things cloud. At the Optum business unit of UHG, he leads healthcare IT transformation initiatives with large provider organizations designed to improve the quality of care for millions of Americans. He is passionate about combining digital technology with humanity and compassion to help people lead healthier lives. Prior to UnitedHealth Group, Paul was Vice President of IT Services for NEC Corporation of America, where he led a national organization of IT consultants, developers, project managers, and engineers that served enterprise and public sector accounts. He has held senior management positions at T-Mobile, Nortel Networks, IBM, AMD and National Semiconductor where he was instrumental in bringing innovative products and services to market.
Paul holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and has completed MBA coursework at SMU and the Wharton School. He has served as an active member of IEEE including several standards committees related to computer networking and wireless technologies. In 2017, he co-founded New Hope Education, Inc. a private, non-profit school serving K4 to 6th-grade students in the North Dallas area. Paul actively supports Metro Relief, a non-profit who helps people experiencing homelessness to get off the streets through an all mobile, person-centered field service organization.
Betty Manetta
President & CEO, Argent Associates, Inc.
Betty Manetta is an influential executive and strategic entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience driving transformation and growth for global technology and telecommunications companies and startups. She is recognized as an award-winning, supply chain and sustainability industry expert and an advocate of women and minority owned businesses. Betty brings governance experience through her advisory leadership with several nonprofit boards.
Betty is the Founder, President and CEO of Argent Associates, a tech-centric, software development and integration firm which has received awards for its work, leadership, and workforce diversity. She built the multi-million-dollar company’s legacy by creating innovative supply chain solutions while keeping its commitment to environmental protection. Betty also formed and launched Asociar, a successful joint venture with a global international corporation which is focused on network engineering, technical installation, and testing for the telecommunications industry. She bought out their interest and transitioned the company to a certified, black and brown minority-owned business and she is expanding the company’s national footprint. Betty is spearheading a strategic transformation of technology-based entities from a functional focus to an enabler of innovation. The business is using proprietary technology solutions to create enhanced and digitized customer experiences.
Betty earned a BS in Marketing and Accounting from Rutgers University and an MBA in International Business from Seton Hall University. She completed executive education programs from several schools including Thunderbird School of Global Management, Kellogg School of Business, John F. Kennedy School of Business and Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
Hope Shimabuku
Director, USPTO Texas Regional Office
As the Regional Director of the Texas Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Hope Shimabuku carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, and is responsible for leading the Texas regional office. Focusing on the region and actively engaging with the community, Ms. Shimabuku ensures the USPTO’s initiatives and programs are tailored to the region’s unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders.
Ms. Shimabuku brings to the USPTO nearly two decades of experience as an engineer and intellectual property attorney. Most recently, Ms. Shimabuku was part of the Office of General Counsel at Xerox Corporation serving as Vice President and Corporate Counsel responsible for all intellectual property matters for Xerox Business Services, LLC. She also worked for BlackBerry Corporation advising on United States and Chinese standards setting, cyber security, technology transfer, and intellectual property laws and legislation. As an engineer, she worked for Procter & Gamble and Dell Computer Corporation.
Ms. Shimabuku is a leader in the Texas region. She currently sits on the Board of Visitors for the University of North Texas Law School and is an honorary member and inaugural member of the Barbara M.G. Lynn IP Inn of Court. She is a past chair for the Intellectual Property Section of the State Bar of Texas, served as past president of the Dallas Asian American Bar Association, chaired the Dallas Diversity Task Force, served as a facilitator for the DFW Women in Intellectual Property group and served on the board of the Dallas Bar Association and as a member of the Grievance Committee for the State Bar of Texas – District 6.
Throughout her career, Ms. Shimabuku has championed diversity efforts, including service as the first Asian-American Chair of the Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and was honored with the Champion of Diversity Award by the Association of Corporate Counsel and separately by the Asian Pacific Interest Section of the State Bar of Texas. She has received numerous professional honors, including being honored as a Hero of Innovation by the Center for American and International Law, being selected as a Dallas Business Journal “Top 40 Under Forty,” named Dallas Business Journal’s Corporate Counsel Rookie of the Year, selected as one of DCEO’s “500 Most Powerful Business Leaders”, and being awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award for Government Services for SMU Dedman School of Law in 2018.
Ms. Shimabuku has had the opportunity to participate in various events throughout her tenure with the USPTO, including SXSW Interactive, the Houston Tech Rodeo, Craft Brewers Conference and Brew Expo America, Center for American and International Policy, the Conrad Challenge Innovation Summit, FIRST Championships, and as a casting call guest on ABC’s Shark Tank.
Ms. Shimabuku received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and graduated cum laude with a J.D. from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. She is a native Texan, born and raised in Houston. She currently lives in Flower Mound, Texas, with her husband and two daughters.