Awards
The Mayor’s Technology Leader of the Year recognizes an individual whose leadership, innovation, and community impact have strengthened Atlanta’s technology ecosystem. Presented jointly by the Technology Association of Georgia and the Office of the Mayor at TAG’s annual Chairs’ Gala, the award honors leaders advancing Georgia’s position as a rising global hub of innovation and expanding opportunity for the region’s tech workforce and communities.
Justin E. Samuels – Founder & CEO of RenderATL and Senior Engineer at Intuit Mailchimp – was named the 2025 Mayor’s Technology Leader of the Year. His vision for blending culture and technology has expanded Atlanta’s visibility on the national stage and created new pathways for connection, innovation, and inclusive growth across the tech sector.
Mayor Andre Dickens celebrated Samuels’ impact, noting that his work “opens doors, creates opportunities, and ensures that innovation in Georgia reflects the diversity and creativity of our communities.”
Samuels’ leadership has helped position Atlanta as a place where creativity, technology, and culture intersect and thrive.
Gregory Morrison, Chair of the Clark Atlanta University Board of Trustees and former longtime CIO of Cox Enterprises, received the 2024 Mayor’s Technology Leader Award. Morrison has shaped Atlanta’s technology landscape for more than two decades – leading enterprise innovation, advancing technology education, and championing pathways for diverse talent across Georgia’s tech community. His leadership continues to influence the state’s next generation of innovators.
In 2023, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens was recognized by TAG as Atlanta’s “Technology Mayor” for making innovation, digital equity, and tech workforce development core priorities for the city. To honor that leadership, TAG later established the Mayor’s Technology Leader of the Year Award in partnership with the City of Atlanta, naming the award in recognition of his impact. Under Dickens’ administration, Atlanta has expanded programs that support tech education, strengthen public–private collaboration, and position the city as a growing national center for technology.
The Mayor’s Technology Leader of the Year Award highlights individuals who are driving meaningful progress across Atlanta’s tech community, demonstrating:
This recognition reinforces the shared vision for Atlanta as a leading center for technology, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.
