The Tech Leader of the Year Award honors a leader in the Tampa Bay region whose primary responsibility is technology strategy or delivery, and who has made an extraordinary impact on their organization and the broader technology community.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The recipient should have direct or dotted-line oversight of a technology team or function and demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and strategic vision.
• Eligible titles include Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Chief Operating Officer with direct technology oversight, or a comparable executive role whose core function is technology leadership.
• Nominations should include specific evidence such as initiatives led, measurable business or organizational outcomes, and examples of mentorship or industry contribution.

NOTE: Nominees eligible for the Emerging Tech Leader of the Year Award (see below) should be nominated for one category or the other, not both, in the same cycle.

A previous recipient of this award is not eligible to win the same category again within 5 years of their win. Past winners remain eligible for nomination in other categories.

The Emerging Tech Leader of the Year Award honors a leader under the age of 40, working in or leading a technology team, project, or initiative, who has made a substantial and transformative impact on their team, organization, and the Tampa Bay tech community. This individual is a proactive contributor to the broader Tampa Bay tech ecosystem — inspiring others, mentoring, and setting new standards for success.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be under 40 as of 11/13/2026
• The recipient exemplifies outstanding leadership, innovation, and dedication, driving measurable advancements and fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
• Nominations should include specific examples of leadership scope and impact, not solely individual technical achievement.

NOTE: Nominees eligible for the Tech Leader of the Year Award should be nominated for one category or the other, not both, in the same cycle.

A previous recipient of this award is not eligible to win the same category again within 5 years of their win. Past winners remain eligible for nomination in other categories.

The Tech Educator of the Year Award recognizes an individual in an educational role — including K-12, higher education, technical/vocational training, or corporate upskilling programs — who has made a significant impact on student interest in pursuing technology careers in the Tampa Bay region.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The recipient has delivered measurable positive outcomes for technology students in the region and demonstrated a sustained commitment to high-quality, technology-centric curriculum.
• Nominations should include supporting evidence such as program or enrollment growth, student placement or certification rates, curriculum innovations, and student or employer testimonials.

A previous recipient of this award is not eligible to win the same category again within 5 years of their win. Past winners remain eligible for nomination in other categories.

The Tech Company of the Year Award recognizes a technology company headquartered in the Tampa Bay region with more than 5 years in business, dedicated to advancing the region’s technology community.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Headquartered in the Tampa Bay region and in business for more than 5 years.
• The honored company exemplifies transformational excellence in its people, programs, and projects; makes significant contributions to its industry; and sets a standard for innovation and community engagement within Tampa Bay.
• Nominations should demonstrate impact through concrete examples: business growth, product or service innovation, workforce development, and measurable community or industry engagement (e.g., sponsorships, mentorship programs, civic tech involvement).

A previous recipient of this award is not eligible to win the same category again within 5 years of their win. Past winners remain eligible for nomination in other categories.

The Emerging Tech Company of the Year Award celebrates outstanding achievement and innovation by a technology company headquartered in the Tampa Bay region that has been in business for fewer than 5 years.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Headquartered in the Tampa Bay region and in business for less than 5 years.
• The recipient has shown exceptional commitment to advancing the region’s technology sector and demonstrates excellence in market disruption through impactful contributions to its industry, as evidenced by its people, programs, and projects.
• Nominations should include concrete evidence: funding milestones, product launches, customer or revenue growth, and community or industry engagement.

A previous recipient of this award is not eligible to win the same category again within 5 years of their win. Past winners remain eligible for nomination in other categories.

The Tech Project of the Year Award recognizes a groundbreaking technology project led by a team based in the Tampa Bay region, whether built in-house or with contracted development partners. This award honors the ingenuity, dedication, and collaborative effort behind the project. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• The project must have launched between September 2025 and September 2026 and demonstrated significant impact — regionally, nationally, or internationally — through industry disruption or transformative effect within the organization.
• Nominations should describe the problem solved, the scope and timeline, and measurable results or benchmarks achieved.

A previous recipient of this award is not eligible to win the same category again within 5 years of their win. Past winners remain eligible for nomination in other categories.