ACT-IAC Leadership Awards
As a volunteer driven organization that depends upon the commitment of many individuals from government and industry to achieve the organization’s mission, ACT-IAC is fortunate to have many dedicated members who make significant contributions on a regular basis. Each year ACT-IAC recognizes some of the most exceptional volunteers for their contributions. Nominations for the awards open each year in late summer, with winners announced during Imagine Nation ELC in October.
ACT-IAC awards are as follows:
Each year an industry executive who has made significant and continuing contributions to improving government and to ACT-IAC over a sustained period of time is recognized with the ACT-IAC Industry Executive Leadership Award. The award is presented in the spirit of Janice K. Mendenhall, a highly respected former senior government executive who exemplified the best of public service.
Congratulations to Martha Dorris, Dorris Consulting International, on winning the 2024 ACT-IAC Industry Executive Leadership Award!
Previous Winners:
Each year ACT-IAC recognizes a government employee who has made extraordinary, impactful and innovative contributions to the government community over a sustained period of time. The award is presented in the spirit of John J. Franke, a long time senior executive who was committed to the idea of a government that truly and effectively serves the public and was known for his respect for the individuals with whom he worked, regardless of their position or title.
Congratulations to Melvin Brown, Office of Personnel Management, on winning the 2024 ACT-IAC Government Executive Leadership Award!
Previous Winners:
The ACT-IAC Education Award is presented to individuals from government and industry who have made significant contributions in educating, sharing knowledge and bringing awareness towards a more effective and efficient government. The award is presented in the spirit of Ginny McCormick. Ms. McCormick was a long-time government employee who spent 46 years with GSA before retiring. Through her work with the Federation of Government Information Processing Councils (FGIPC, now ACT) and the ADP Council of the Southeastern States, Ginny helped define the government-industry partnership we know today.
Congratulations to Jylinda Johnson, GDIT, on winning the 2024 ACT-IAC Education Award!
Previous Winners:
Beginning in 2008, the ACT President and IAC Chair each selected an individual to receive an award who has made significant contributions but has not otherwise been recognized. Initially there was an IAC Chair’s Award and ACT President’s Award. In 2014 the ACT President and IAC Chair consolidated these two separate awards into a single ACT-IAC Leadership Award in recognition of the strong partnership between ACT and IAC.
Congratulations to Gary Washington, USDA, and Sonny Hashmi, Unqork, on winning the 2024 ACT-IAC Leadership Award!
Previous Winners:
The Government Individual Contributor of the Year award is presented to individuals from government who have had significant involvement in ACT-IAC over the past year and have made a difference. The award is presented in spirit of Rory Schultz, a long-time ACT-IAC volunteer who has championed the importance of continuous learning and giving back to the community.
Congratulations to Dan Jacobs, OPM, on winning the 2024 ACT-IAC Government Individual Contributor of the Year Award!
Previous Winners:
The Industry Individual Contributor of the Year award is presented to individuals from industry who have had significant involvement in ACT-IAC over the past year and have made a difference.
Congratulations to Ratima Kataria, ICF International, on winning the 2024 ACT-IAC Industry Individual Contributor of the Year Award!
Previous Winners:
The Rookie of the Year award is presented to an individual who is new to ACT-IAC within the past two years and has already made a significant contribution.
Congratulations to Jairo Castro, HumanTouch; Jessica Price, NuAxis Innovations; and Emilie Scantlebury, MetroStar, on winning the 2024 ACT-IAC Rookie of the Year Award!
Previous Winners:
Beginning in 2018, Collaboration Awards were presented to several teams from government and/or industry who have made a positive difference in the federal community through collaboration and acted in the spirit of the ACT-IAC mission, while driving new methods and approaches and creating a more effective, innovative and responsive government over the last 5 years. Today, the award continues to recognize the collaborative, extraordinary, impactful, and innovative contributions to ACT-IAC and the federal community.
Previous Winners:
- The ACT-IAC Government Innovation Community Advisors which included Alexis Bonnell, USAID; Arianne Miller, OPM; Nagesh Rao, SBA; and Jim Thompson, State Dept.
- The HHS Buysmarter Team which included John Gentile, HHS; Lori Ruderman, HHS; Kenneth Thomson, Nationwide IT Services; Christos Steadas, HHS; Ginny Aristorenas, HHS; Sisley Chung, Nationwide IT Services; Lisa Harper, Data Federal; Stephen Woodring, The Clearing; Sean Follin, The Clearing; Deneen Brent, Nationwide IT Services; Margo Thomas, The Clearing; Jose Arrieta, HHS; Oki Mek, HHS; and Clarence Randall, HHS
- The OPM HR Line of Business Team which included Anita Murray, OPM; Marcel Jemio, OPM; and Jeffrey Pollackc, OPM
- The ACT-IAC Management and Modernization COI Leadership Team which included Stu Hammer, Perspecta; Daniel York, GSA; Vera Ashworth, CGI; Eric Stogoski, Earnst & Young; Melvin Brown, DHS; and Colleen Law, SIE Consulting
- The ACT-IAC Emerging Technology COI Blockchain Playbook Team which included Sandy Barsky, GSA; Sherri Sokol, DISA; Star Vanamali, Sapient; and Venkat Kodumudi, CGI
2020 - Greg Little, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense; Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic