Company/Organization & Achievement Awards Judging Committee
Chair:
Jenny Leman, President
CareerPlug, Austin, Texas, United States
After 20 years in either healthcare or business operations, Jenny Leman is currently the President of CareerPlug, a people operations software platform that helps small business teams grow by hiring and retaining the right people. As an EOS Integrator, she is dedicated to partnering with Founders/Visionaries to help their entrepreneurial dream and vision come to fruition through execution across product delivery, go-to-market strategies, and all internal operations so teams can deliver consistent results that work for the business and its customers.
During Jenny’s 8 years there, CareerPlug’s impact expanded from supporting about 7,000 small business teams to more than 70,000 today, most commonly in the franchising space. The organization was recognized with a Stevie Award for Sustainability in 2024 and recently, Jenny was accepted into the University of Texas ‘Women Who Mean Business’ Fall 2025 executive leadership program, which develops rising executives who are ready to further accelerate their influence and impact.
Jenny’s expertise spans SMB SaaS operations, people-first operations, entrepreneurial organizations, and partner ecosystems with parent-child networks such as franchises. She champions equitable and transparent employment practices and builds systems that make fairness practical, measurable, and sustainable.
As an occasional podcast guest and speaker, Jenny advises early Visionaries, women in tech, and small business leaders on topics such as leading People-First, navigating the volatile North American labor market, shifting applicant expectations, and the responsible use of AI in hiring. She serves as Co-Chair of the Austin Women in Franchising Network and on the board of Protect Young Eyes, a nonprofit helping youth build healthier digital habits. She is a committed advocate for working parents and for workplaces where talent, results and family can thrive together.
As a judge, she looks for organizations with a clear vision, operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to their values and mission, along with the agility/creativity to stay relevant when competitive markets shift.
Committee:
Amy Cannon, Integration Consultant
Commerce Technology, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Amy has spent the last decade working with a focus primarily on commerce and healthcare technologies, helping multi-billion dollar businesses and healthcare organizations embark on digital transformation projects and optimize use of technology for operational and revenue driving needs.
Damilola Abiola Akinduro, Global Head of Benefits
Equinix, Milton, Ontario, Canada
Damilola Abiola Akinduro is a global HR Executive specializing in Total Rewards. She has led this sub-function Globally and across regions at Equinix, Barry Callebaut, Nestle and KPMG. A trusted advisor and international speaker, Damilola is known for driving high-impact people practices that elevate employee experience and business outcomes.
Lorretta Gasper, Principal
Wind Rose Communications, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Lorretta Gasper founded Wind Rose Communications, a public relations and marketing consultancy specializing in B2B technology. She has more than 35 years of experience as a financial journalist and corporate communications/investor relations executive, including at the Wall Street Journal and publicly traded corporations.
Palak Mittal, Senior Manager, Product & Engineering Management
Align Technology Inc., San Jose, California, United States
Dr. Palak Mittal is a Senior Manager of Product & Engineering Management at Align Technology (the makers of Invisalign). With a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Science, followed by MS in Healthcare Management, Palak has over 10 years of experience in product development in the healthcare and medical devices industry.
Alla Stozhok, Founder & Director, Cello Story LLC and Music Educator
Cello Story, Pomfret Center, Connecticut, United States
Alla is a music director, orchestra artist, and educator with over 7 years of experience, a researcher in the field of the impact of music on child brain development, and the founder of an innovative music school. She created a unique author’s music education methodology that combines classical music education and psychological-pedagogical principles of development.
Raghavender Reddy Puchhakayala, Senior Quant Analytics Associate
JPMorgan Chase / Senior Member IEEE, Dallas, Texas, United States
Raghavender Puchhakayala is an accomplished Analytics Solutions Associate Senior at JP Morgan Chase, with over a decade of expertise in data warehousing and business intelligence. Based in Dallas, he holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from UMKC and actively contributes to the IEEE, advancing technology discourse and professional networking.