TAG Technology Awards

The annual TAG Technology Awards promote and celebrate our inclusive technology community throughout Georgia. Every year, TAG chooses several finalists to be considered for their innovative tech and community efforts in Georgia and beyond. Below are the 2024 TAG Technology Awards finalists and winners. Thank you to our technology community for making this year’s Technology Awards a success!

Celebrate the Technology Award Finalists and Winners with TAG

Corporate Tech Leader of the Year Award

This award recognizes a CIO, CISO or equivalent throughout Georgia in a corporation who has primary IT leadership responsibility within their organization, and demonstrated leadership, driven innovation, and delivered value to their organization (e.g. revamped IT organization, contributed to employer’s mission/profit/efficiency in a major way, etc.) since January 2023.

Winner: Jonathan O’Connor

Tim Callahan – Global CISO, Aflac

Yogs Jayaprakasam – CTO, Deluxe

Ron McMurtrie – CMO, Honeywell

Jonathan O’Connor – CEO of MAAST, CCO Synovus Merchant

Services / Payment Sponsorship

Ravi Venkatesan – CEO, Cantaloupe

Emerging Leader of the Year

This award recognizes a rising leader in any type or size Georgia organization who demonstrated leadership, driven innovation, and delivered value to their organization or industry (e.g. revamped IT organization, contributed to employer’s mission/profit/efficiency in a major way, etc.) since January 2023. Applicants are individuals with high potential to be a future leader but is not currently in one of the top roles in their organization.

Winner: Francine Marquis

Dar’shun Kendrick – State Representative, GA General Assembly

Francine Marquis – Cloud AI Program Manager, Google

Gaurang Patel – Sr. Director, Engineering – Marketing and Personalization Technology, Macy’s

Oneisha Freeman Rojales – Digital Connectivity Manager, Georgia Technology Authority

Shobhit Sharma – Director | Technical Manager, USIS Specialty Finance Platform, Equifax Inc.

Public Servant Tech Leader

This award recognizes a CIO, CISO or equivalent throughout Georgia in government, education or non-profit sector who has primary IT leadership responsibility within their organization, and demonstrated leadership, driven innovation, and delivered value to their organization (e.g. revamped IT organization, contributed to employer’s mission/profit/efficiency in a major way, etc.) since January 2023.

Winner: Robbie Vickers

Jason Sankey – CIO, City of Atlanta

Robbie Vickers – CIO, Technical College System of Georgia

Ananias Williams – CIO, Georgia

Tech for Good

This award recognizes a 2023-2024 program or project that utilizes technology to positively impact under-served individuals or communities, promotes inclusiveness and creates equity in Georgia.

Winner: Georgia Tech- Georgia AIM

Georgia Fintech Academy

Georgia Technology Authority

Georgia Tech- Georgia AIM

Innovation Driven Company

This award recognizes a company throughout Georgia who has developed an innovative technology (hardware, software, etc.) solution or are using existing technology in an innovative way to make companies and organizations stand out in any industry in 2023.

Revenue thresholds based on categories: