Celebrating Women in Technology: Announcing the 25th Annual WIT Awards Honorees

They’ve broken barriers, ignited innovation, and transformed the tech landscape — and now, they’re one step closer to becoming a 2025 WIT Awards winner. We’re thrilled to announce the remarkable women who have been selected as honorees for our 25th annual WIT Awards.

Why We Honor These Exceptional Women

At Women in Technology (WIT), we create possibilities for more women and girls to explore, pursue, persist, and lead in technology. The WIT Awards is more than just a celebration; it’s a powerful affirmation of our mission. Each honoree embodies the very spirit of what’s possible when women lead with confidence, clarity, and commitment.

These incredible women are not just nominees. They are beacons of inspiration, showcasing the innovation and profound impact driving Georgia’s technology ecosystem forward. From emerging leaders shaping the next big idea to seasoned change-makers guiding global transformations, their stories are powerful reminders of the vital role leadership, mentorship, and inclusion play in building a brighter future for technology. They demonstrate how women are leading global initiatives, launching startups, and mentoring hundreds, paving the way for those who follow.

What’s Comes Next for Our Honorees

Over the coming weeks, a distinguished panel of judges (composed of WIT community leaders, past award recipients, and industry experts) will meticulously review each honoree’s impact, leadership, and contributions to the tech sector. This rigorous process ensures that the women who have demonstrated truly outstanding achievements are recognized for their exceptional efforts and potential for even greater impact.

Finalists will be announced in early September. We eagerly anticipate revealing the final award recipients live at the WIT Awards on October 23, 2025, at the Georgia Aquarium. This special evening will be a momentous occasion to celebrate their achievements, their ongoing influence, and the exciting paths that lie ahead for them as they continue to shape the future of technology.

We look forward to celebrating these trailblazing women and invite you to join us on this inspiring journey!

• Arati Chavan – Vice President, Cyber Security, McKesson
• Akhila Gullapalli – Vice President, Fiserv
• Banita Hyman – Senior Director, Infrastructure and Cloud Services, Norfolk Southern
• Kateau James – Chief Information Officer, McKinsey and Company
• Kim Keever – Chief Information Security Officer, Cox Communications
• Missy Lawson – SVP Technology, Strategic Programs, Fiserv
• Tina Nguyen – Senior Director, Services Operations, GE Vernova
• Ashlea Parrish (Mitchell) – VP Engineering (Enterprise Architecture & Engineering), Equifax
• Julianne Taft – AVP, Enablement and Expansion, Cox Communications
• Rashmi Verma – Head of Corporate IT, TK Elevator

• Ria Aiken – AVP, Technology and Security, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
• Chavonda Mills – SVP for Academic and Student Affairs and Provost, Georgia Gwinnett College
• Melissa Koehler – VP, Global Business Operations, PagerDuty
• Hyesung Park – Associate Professor, Georgia Gwinnett College
• Chintan Patel – Chief Information Officer, National DCP
• Jill Renfroe – VP, Global IT, H-E Parts International
• Kerri Sauer – Managing Director, Sia Partners
• Marline Thomas – Director, IT Effectiveness, Yamaha Motor, USA
• Lakshmi Vitthanala – Senior Vice President, InComm Payments
• Paula Wagner – CIO, Mansfield Energy

• Melissa Campbell – SVP, Product & Technology, Jackson and Coker
• Robin Cheramie – Dean, Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University
• Megan Cortjens – Executive Director, Join Our Place
• Francesca Frederick – CEO & Co-founder, Grantyd
• Allison Giddens – CIO, Win-Tech, Inc.
• Lisa S. Jones – Founder & CEO, EyeMail Inc.
• Shana Sanders – CEO, We Create Tech, Inc.
• Meagan Skerchock – Founder & CEO, Perspectiv, Inc.
• Celine Vignal – Founder, Seesaw Health
• Kimberly West – Founder & CEO, Magnum Opus Consulting

• Teanna Alexis – Associate Director – Technology, AT&T
• Nicole Slay Caldwell – Lead Tech Business Mgmt, AT&T
• ZsaVette Eze – Vice President, Technology, Synchrony Financial
• Manjula Ganta – Senior Director, Product Development, ADP Inc.
• Francine Marquis – AI Program Manager, Cloud (Lead), Google, Inc.
• Genille McElvey – Service Delivery Manager, HCL Tech
• Lexis Mickens – Senior Specialist, Enterprise Onboarding, Salesforce
• Deepa Pahuja – Senior Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Kaitlin Schaberg – Director, Hyperscale Programs, DC BLOC
• Lorita Shaw – Sr. Data Engineer, Tech Founder, Data Analytics, Simplified – Mindr

• Anjie Adeyemo – Lead Advanced Analytics, AT&T
• Amber Borgersen – Director, Sentinel Sales Acceleration & Compete Programs, Microsoft
• Briana Hickson – Web Manager, Gwinnett County Public Schools
• Bhoomi Kotharkar – Product Manager, Home Depot + Delta Air Lines (Georgia Tech)
• Vivian Milender – LEAD Analyst – Associate Product Owner, Cox Enterprises/Cox Automotive
• Sarah O’Brien – Data Scientist, Southern Company
• Nicole Rebolledo – Project Leader, Ocean Bank
• Madeleine Suszka – Senior Manager, Marketing Technology, The Coca-Cola Company

• Kassundra Evans – IT Analyst, Graphic Packaging International
• Cheliya Green – Security Officer, Allied Universal Security Services
• Brittany Love – CEO, Free Birds Vegan Kitchen
• Laura Newberry-Henderson – Investigation Specialist, Amazon
• Cristal Quintanilla – Customer Care Professional, Foundever
• Cindy Singleton – Community/Parent Liaison, Clayton County Public Schools
• Melissa Watkins – Analyst, Department of Water Resources