In partnership with the Society for Information Management Memphis Chapter, the 2026 MEMTECH Awards aim to celebrate leaders and innovators in the technology field around the Mid-South area. Eight honorees will be considered in a diverse range of fields, including cybersecurity, technology education, and public and private sector leadership. Nominations are now open for the 2026 awards. When nominating a candidate, please include their name & company, which category you would like to nominate them for, and why you believe they are worthy winners. The eight winners will be featured in the February 2026 issue of Memphis Magazine, and an awards banquet will be held on Saturday, February 21st, at the FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms Park to celebrate the honorees.

Please see below for more information on categories and voting criteria.

NOMINATION FORM IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

1. CIO/IT Leader Award (Private)

• Innovation & Strategy: Demonstrates visionary leadership, advocating for innovative technological solutions to drive the company’s growth and competitive advantage.
• Business Impact: Direct influence on business outcomes, ROI, and growth via IT strategies.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Effective collaboration with other business units, ensuring IT aligns with overall business goals.
• Leadership: Ability to inspire and lead a team, fostering growth and learning.
• Risk Management: Implementing robust cybersecurity measures and maintaining system integrity in the private sector.

2. CIO/IT Leader Award (Public)

• Public Service Excellence: Use of technology for public good, improving accessibility, transparency, and efficiency.
• Scalable Solutions: Implements IT solutions that can be scaled and replicated across other public entities.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partnerships with private sectors, NGOs, or community groups to leverage technology.
• Transparency & Engagement: Uses technology to foster transparency and citizen engagement.
• Digital Transformation: Successful migration or upgrade of legacy systems to more modern, efficient technologies.

3. Community Leader of the Year

• Community Engagement: Demonstrated involvement in local, tech related community events or initiatives.
• Mentorship & Advocacy: Acts as a mentor or supports underrepresented groups in tech.
• Local Impact: Made significant contributions to local technological advancements or education.
• Collaboration: Facilitates partnerships between different community entities.

4. Cyber Security Leader of the Year

• Innovative Defense: Implemented cutting edge cybersecurity solutions or strategies.
• Incident Response: Demonstrated excellence in response to cybersecurity threats or breaches.
• Awareness & Training: Promoted cybersecurity awareness and training within the organization.
• Leadership: Guides teams effectively to counter security threats.
• Collaboration: Works with other leaders to integrate cybersecurity into overall IT and business strategy.

5. Trailblazer

• Leadership: Holds significant leadership roles and has a track record of professional excellence.
• Advocacy: Actively supports people in tech, both within and outside an organization.
• Innovation: Introduced or supported groundbreaking tech solutions or initiatives.
• Inspiration: Acts as a role model to others, showcasing resilience, vision, and impact.

6. Crisis Leadership

• Adaptability: Demonstrated agility in pivoting tech strategies during crises.
• Communication: Maintained transparent and regular communication during challenging times.
• Resilience: Ensured business continuity and minimal disruption despite external challenges.
• Problem Solving: Finds efficient solutions to complex problems under pressure.
• Future Proofing: Implemented solutions during the crisis that are sustainable for future challenges.

7. Technology Educator of the Year

• Knowledge Dissemination: Uses diverse platforms and methods to educate on technology topics.
• Curriculum Innovation: Introduces or supports cuttingedge, relevant content in technology education.
• Student Impact: Demonstrable positive outcomes for students or learners.
• Community Engagement: Collaborates with tech community for realworld application of educational content.

8. Tech Entrepreneur of the Year

• Startup Vision & Innovation: Founded or scaled a startup that introduces breakthrough technology, products, or business models.
• Growth & Traction: Demonstrated rapid customer adoption, funding milestones, or significant market expansion.
• Disruption & Differentiation: Challenged established norms by creating disruptive solutions that reshape industries or markets.
• Leadership & Team Building: Built and inspired high performing teams that thrive in the fast paced startup environment.