Nearly 400 tech leaders, trailblazers and groundbreakers gathered Tuesday night at Huntington Bank Field for the 18th Best of Tech Day featuring the Best of Tech Awards.

The evening began with a Tech Unicorn Conversation with Steve Potash, President and CEO, OverDrive, and Baiju Shah, President and CEO, GCP, and concluded with the awards, given in 12 categories, including the new categories of AI Innovation and HealthTech.

The Best of Tech Awards honor companies, organizations and individuals who are excelling and helping grow the tech economy in our region. 

And the 18th Annual Best of Tech Award winners are …

CIOs of the Year
Ivy Chin, The Sherwin-Williams Company

Curtis Timmons, Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Tech CEO of the Year
Joshua Edmonds, DigitalC – Nonprofit

Steve Potash, OverDrive – Corporate

Best IT Services Companies
EOX Vantage – Large

FIT Technologies – Medium

Lazorpoint – Small

Rising Star
Martina Dimoska, International Space Alliance / NASA Space Apps Challenge

Enterprise Tech Team of the Year
ControlSoft, Inc.

Startup of the Year
Bloomfilter

HealthTech of the Year
MorelandConnect

SMART Excellence in Manufacturing
Ohio Gratings, Inc.

AI Innovation
AgileBlue

Cybersecurity Partner Excellence
TrustedSec

ProCorps Company of the Year
KeyBank

Community Impact
Jeffrey Stern, Lay of The Land – Individual

Kevin J. Goodman, BlueBridge Networks – Corporate

Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Digital Inclusion Program – Nonprofit

In their remarks, honorees were community-focused and inspiring on Tuesday.

“As we celebrate this recognition today, let's also ignite the flame for diversity and inclusion in technology, and let's champion and uplift women in it,” said Ivy Chin of Sherwin-Williams, winner of the CIO of the Year. "Let’s forge a future where every voice is heard, every talent has value and every opportunity is equal. And together, let's drive Cleveland to be a thriving technology hub.”

“This year’s winners – along with the whole class of finalists – were very impressive,” said Courtney DeOreo, GCP’s Managing Director of Tech Economy Initiatives. “They are all inspiring and together paint a picture of IT and cybersecurity excellence and community engagement in our region.”

Key Takeaways
- Innovation is thriving. Fields such as "AI Innovation" (AgileBlue), "SMART Excellence in Manufacturing" (Ohio Gratings), and "HealthTech of the Year" (MorelandConnect) reflect a strong focus on cutting-edge technology and advancements, from artificial intelligence to healthcare and manufacturing.

-Tech leadership is strong and diverse. The awards spotlighted a diverse group influential tech leaders, including CIOs like Ivy Chin (Sherwin-Williams) and Curtis Timmons (Cleveland Metropolitan School District), as well as CEOs such as Joshua Edmonds (DigitalC) and Steve Potash (OverDrive), emphasizing leadership across diverse sectors.

- Cleveland’s tech community is community focused. The awards recognize contributions to community well-being and social impact, highlighting individuals and organizations making a difference through initiatives like the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority’s Digital Inclusion Program and Curtis Timmons work at the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

- Advice from a unicorn. Steve Potash concluded his conversation with Baiju Shah with straightforward advice: Don’t believe the hype. Be present. And focus on efficacy.

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