Meet the Winners of the 2025 CIO of the Year Awards

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, the awrds highlighted the contributions shaping Pittsburgh’s tech landscape. 

"These awards are an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of Southwestern PA's most hardworking CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, and deserving tech leaders," said Pittsburgh Technology Council President and CEO Audrey Russo. "We've been conducting the CIO of the Year Awards for nearly two decades and the tech industry has evolved dramatically as well as the roles of CIOs. We're seeing more emphasis on other roles like CTOs and CISOs that are driving innovation. We wanted expand the awards, be more inclusive of people and roles that are making an impact and setting the region's tech ecosystem ahead."

Each year, the Tech Council partners with Greater Pittsburgh CIO/CISO Groups, for the biggest tech leadership celebratory event of the year.

CIO Choice Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Alan Levine

Until 2017, Alan Levine was the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Arconic (2016-2017), public successor to Alcoa Inc., where he was responsible for all aspects of cyber security, information security, compliance, eDiscovery, and data privacy for a global company. Prior, for 20 years, Alan was the CISO and Chief Privacy Officer for Alcoa Inc. (1997-2016). Previously, Alan was Data Protection Officer for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (1980-1997) and Instructor at Carnegie Mellon University (1977-1980). Alan's specialties include: all aspects of cyber security in a worldwide landscape, global data privacy, emphasis on European privacy provisions, eDiscovery, IT compliance, including SOX, CFATS, NERC, and related corporate regulatory compliance requirements, and controlled data (ITAR, EAR) for U.S. export control requirements.

Alan is an experienced cyber security professional with extensive international and regulatory experience. He was a founding member of the Microsoft Security Council, Oracle's GRC Council, and other supplier/customer committees. He is currently Board Chair and founding board member of the Carnegie Mellon University Chief Information Security Officer Executive Program. Alan has received numerous awards for his work in cyber security, including personal commendations from Robert Mueller and James Comey when they were Directors, US FBI, for Alan's contributions to national security. Alan has a bachelor’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a master’s degree from City College of New York, and is ABD from Carnegie Mellon University.  

CIO of the Year Award

Kathleen Lovett, VSP Vision

As Vice President & CIO, Supply Chain at VSP Vision, Kathleen partners closely with presidents and executives across the enterprise to advance meaningful business outcomes and help the nation's largest not-for-profit eye health company continue to meet the needs of its stakeholders. Prior to joining VSP, she held executive leadership roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where she led global distribution channel technology and eCommerce digital operations teams. Prior to that, she spent 20 years at U.S. Steel in both domestic and international technology and finance leadership.

Kathleen received a Digital Transformation certification through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Westminster College, and a dual MBA, and a Master of Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh's Katz School of Business. Active in the Pittsburgh community, Kathleen supports several organizations dedicated to advancing DE&I.

Finalists:

• Mark Henderson, University of Pittsburgh
• Dan Pavlick, TriState Capital Bank
• David Reed, Maxim Crane
• Eng Tan, Automated Health Systems

CTO of the Year Award

Tom Panzarella, Seegrid

Tom Panzarella is a roboticist and an entrepreneur. Tom’s technical work is focused on perception software for mobile robots and he has built and exited several start-up companies that focused on the commercialization of such systems. Tom founded Love Park Robotics in 2011, focused on real-time 3D computer vision for industrial applications and later sold the business (2018) to ifm electronic, gmbh, a ~$1B global corporation, where he served as CTO, Robotics Perception and helped to build ifm’s robotics business. More recently, Tom co-founded Box Robotics with the goal of rebuilding the AGV Perception Stack in HD, bringing 3D LiDAR, HD Maps, and Deep Learning into the warehouse. Seegrid acquired Box Robotics in 2020 and Tom is now CTO at Seegrid. Tom has Master's degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from Villanova University.

Finalists:

• Chris Carmody, UPMC
• Jacob Guertin, Green Impact

CISO of the Year Award

Steve Rocco, Matthews International

As Director, IT Security, Steve is responsible for ensuring the overall cybersecurity posture of Matthews International while also enabling digital transformation and managing cybersecurity enterprise risk. With over 20 years’ experience in Information Technology, he has developed a deep understanding of the many technological challenges that companies face.

Steve’s expertise in IT secure architectural design, risk management frameworks, governance, and compliance has allowed him to create and implement effective security strategies for multiple international companies that balance the need for protection with the need for business agility. He has led multiple cybersecurity teams and has been responsible for developing and executing comprehensive security programs.

Throughout his long career, Steve has remained at the forefront of emerging technologies and evolving threats, constantly striving to improve the security posture and cyber resiliency of the organizations he works for. Steve is also very passionate about educating and mentoring others on cybersecurity best practices.

Finalists:

• Robert Kemp, Federated Hermes
• Eris Symms, Arconic
• Pete Zwieryznski, Koppers

Rising Star Award 

Anthony Matarazzo, Ansys

Anthony, a Pittsburgh native and Montour HS graduate (2009), earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Kent State University (2013).

He began his career at Wesco International, focusing on the Electrical, Communication, & Utility industries. In 2015, Anthony joined Ansys, the global leader in engineering simulation, as their first-ever Remote Sales

Representative. He played a key role in pioneering an international sales & technology development program for 100+ new hires. Over the past decade, Anthony held various sales and management positions, where he helped shape digital transformation strategies for some of the world’s most forward-thinking companies. His passion for simulation contributed to innovations in AV & EV development and AI for Data Center optimization. Named Ansys' Game Changer in 2023, Anthony now advises on AI strategic initiatives, working closely with CXOs, R&D Leaders, and Corp. Partnerships. He resides in Pittsburgh with his wife Morgan and their four young daughters.

Finalists:

• Don Koenig, FedEx
• Jaime Lowther, Concensus Technologies

Tech Trailblazer Award

Adam Gunnett, Busy Beaver Building Centers

Adam Gunnett is the Director of IT & Business Intelligence at Busy Beaver Building Centers, where he leads the integration of cutting-edge retail technologies, including Autonomous Inventory Scanning Robots and Electronic Shelf Labels. Passionate about innovation, Adam has transformed IT operations to enhance efficiency and customer experience while empowering associates to focus on service. Recognized as a thought leader in independent retail technology, he frequently shares insights at industry conferences and peer forums. Under his leadership, Busy Beaver became the first home improvement retailer in the U.S. to fully implement ESLs. A two-time CIO of the Year Finalist, Adam is dedicated to driving technological advancements that bridge the gap between independent and big-box retail.

Finalists:

• Erin Greco, FedEx
• Chris Kosek, K&L Gates
• Christine Sethman, BNY

Tech Community Impact Award

Kashif Henderson, Neighborhood Learning Alliance

Kashif is the Executive Director of Neighborhood Learning Alliance (NLA), leading efforts to expand career-connected learning opportunities and workforce access for underrepresented K-12 youth through partnerships with schools, businesses, government agencies, and universities. Previously, he served as the K-12 Gifted and Talented Coordinator for Pittsburgh Public Schools, overseeing Pennsylvania’s second-largest gifted education program. He has collaborated with CMU’s School of Computer Science to broaden computer science access, participated in the University of Pittsburgh’s NSF INCLUDES grant to diversify STEM fields, and served on Pitt’s Counselor Advisory Board. Kashif was part of Pennsylvania’s Department of Education (PDE) Building Equity-Inclusion-Belonging in the Neighborhood—a Logic Model workgroup—and was an ambassador for Pennsylvania’s Statewide Afterschool Youth Development (PASYDN). Currently, he is a member of the Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium, serves on the board of Cultivating Resilient Youth, and contributes to the College Board’s Dream Deferred Committee and Middle States Council.

Finalists:

• Lynn Banaszak, The Caileigh Lynn McDowell Foundation/Amazon
• Nina Barbuto, Assemble
• Mike Capsambelis, Google
• Amil Cook, Community Forge | BootUp PGH

Tech Team of the Year Award

Triple

Triple is a fintech startup emerging from the numo incubator, a sub company of PNC. Founded in 2019, Triple has grown from a small founding team to become a critical vendor to PNC providing a core platform this is in use by all of their 10 million retail banking customers. Triple now has 10+ clients outside PNC and is poised to define the next generation of transaction based advertising.

Finalists:

• Scott Angelo, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
• Brad Fetchin, 412 Food Rescue
• Regina Stroud, University of Pittsburgh

Workforce Champion Award

Michelle Wardle-Eggers, ACA Group

Michelle joined ACA Group in December 2015 as an Analyst working on the Communications Surveillance Team. This was her introduction to the field of Compliance Consulting for the Financial Services Industry. Prior to joining ACA, Michelle worked as the Executive Director of a local history museum. After moving into a supervisory role on the Communications Surveillance team in 2019, Michelle began to focus on new analyst training. That eventually led to providing onboarding support to all of our Managed Services teams, not just Communications Surveillance. In 2023, the Analyst Development role shifted to focus on ACA Group’s entire Managed Services Business Unit, where Michelle has provided not just onboarding, but other learning and development opportunities, as well as hiring and employee engagement support to over 230 people in the Managed Services Business Unit.

Finalist:

• John Lange, Academy Pittsburgh
• Tony Parfitt, Fullsight
• Evan Schell, Honeycomb Credit

Deep Tech Contributor Award

Siddhartha Mukherjee, Ansys

Siddhartha Mukherjee holds a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, India. He has been involved in R&D primarily in commercial simulation software in the manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace areas. As Principal R&D Engineer at Ansys, Siddhartha works primarily in the areas of Nonlinear Finite Element, Applied Machine Learning, Optimization, and Reliability Engineering. His expertise lies in algorithm development, workflow design, and several application engineering domains.

He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering's Verification and Validation 70 committee which develops formal methods and acceptable procedures for machine learning applications in engineering analysis.

He is also an adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and offers the graduate course titled Applied Finite Element Analysis, and he has several publications and patents to his name in the area of CAE simulation.

Finalists:

Ujwal Chejerla, PPG

Richard Clarke, Highmark Health

Matt Puchalski, Bucket Robotics

Learn more about all of the winners and finalists here.