Solution Provider, Business Development & Thought Leadership Awards Judging Committee
Chair: 
Vicki Brackett, Chief Knowledge Office
Knowledgely, Hollister, California, United States
Recognized as a subject-matter expert on virtual/work-at-home environments and leadership development, Vicki Brackett has written for and been interviewed by Forbes, Fast Company, Fortune Magazine, CIO Magazine, CEOWorld, HR News, Training Magazine, ICMI, Contact Center Pipeline, The Justin Brady Show,and a host of other publications and podcasts, on creative work-at-home, leadership development, and employee engagement strategies. Vicki has led customer service, technical support, and sales teams in a contact center environment for over two decades. She and her teams have helped organizations achieve exceptional operational excellence, increased sales, higher employee engagement, productivity, and retention with strong customer satisfaction - driving both top line revenue and bottom-line contribution.
Today, Vicki is the Chief Knowledge Officer, at Knowledgely, an organization that helps contact centers understand how their knowledge maturity is adding operational costs and increased mental stress to agents who are looking for the right answer to help a customer. With a proven methodology, Knowledgely can help companies drive reduced new hire training times, increased agent productivity and employee/gig worker job satisfaction. Their systematic approach can offer new strategies to achieve better knowledge maturity behind self-service technologies that exceed customer expectations and drive down operational costs.
Vicki is also the author of ‘The Leadership Toolbox - Manage Less Achieve More,’ a book about her experience leading virtual/work-at-home and brick & mortar contact center organizations across industries ranging from consumer technology, education, automotive, cosmetics, nutrition and other consumer products and services. Her book showcases a set of leadership tools that have been vetted by thousands of employees and a systematic approach that can transform organizations into top performing business units, where employees and gig workers love coming to work, are highly engaged, and exceed customer expectations.
On being appointed a 2024 Chair, Vicki commented: “It’s an honor and privilege to be a Stevie Award Chairperson and Judge. The Stevie Awards recognize top performers in an industry that continues to respond to the changing business climate. We can learn from these award winners and take best practices back to teams across the globe. Congratulations to all the winners!”
Committee:
Milan Batinich II, CEO
Milan Motivates, Evansville, Wisconsin, United States
Milan holds several certifications with The Predictive Index and Stanford University School of Medicine for Human Behaviors and Psychology for High Performance. Milan is the founder of The Milan Batinich Group and Milan Motivates, a professional development and motivational speaking company that guides individuals’ in their professional journey and assists teams.
Rishi Bhatia, Director Data Science
Walmart, Bentonville, Arkansas, United States
Rishi, with 15+ years in data science, is the Director of Data Science at Walmart. He drives innovation in machine learning models for assortment planning, space optimization, and pricing, resulting in increased sales and cost reductions. Formerly, at Sam's Club, he directed teams focusing on marketing and merchandising.
Kate Brouse, Strategic Partnerships Manager
NTI-National Telecommuting Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Kate Brouse is a disability advocate with a passion for CX. Currently, she is the Strategic Partnerships Manager for the U.S. non-profit NTI (National Telecommuting Institute). Kate is a frequent speaker at conferences discussing remote work, accessibility, diversity, and disability. Kate earned her bachelor's degree in English from Brigham Young University.
Nicole Cain, CEO
Detailed Home Check Fishers, Indiana, United States
Nicole Cain is the Owner and CEO of Detailed Home Check, an Indianapolis area home watch business she started in 2022. She has been in recruiting, marketing, and operations roles at Sales Xceleration since 2017 and continues to support their organization on a fractional basis.
Amit Gupta, Field CTO - Data Monetization
Snowflake Computing, Wood-ridge, New Jersey, United States
Amit Gupta is the Field CTO for data monetization at Snowflake and has more than 17 years of experience designing data management systems. He is a key member of Snowflake's data collaboration architecture review board and executive committees, shaping product vision, go-to-market strategy, and sales motion.t vision, go-to-market strategy, and sales motion.
Rekha Jayalakshmi, Senior Marketing Data Analyst
Unlock Technologies, San Jose, California, United States
Rekha has 5+ years of experience in Business & Applied Analytics. She recently completed her master's from Columbia University and is a Senior Marketing Analyst in the Fin-tech industry, providing analytics solutions to business stakeholders. Her areas of expertise are Data Strategy, Data Storytelling, Customer, Marketing and Sales Analytics.
Alexa Kaltenberg, Co-Founder
Rubrica, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Alexa’s goal is to help companies hire excellent customer service agents. She has been in the CX, assessment, and language education fields for 15+ years. She has worked on several internationally recognized tests, designed a globally administered chat exam, and supported the training of over 100 raters in over 40 languages.
Raghu Prakash Kannan, Senior Director of Delivery Management
ZeOmega, Plano, Texas, United States
Raghu Prakash Kanan has dedicatedly worked towards healthcare technology transformations, forging collaborations with both business and IT teams to craft innovative solutions. He has also played a significant role at ZeOmega, chairing the Change Advisory Board for 6 years, and has been an active contributor to our product's evolution.
Hariprasad Kapilavai, Technical Architect
Data Core Systems, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Hariprasad has been the Senior Technical Architect of Thermofisher Scientific since 2020. Hariprasad has 15+ years’ experience in the IT industry, focusing on the delivery of solutions into their functional or cross-functional area, which includes owning the application landscape roadmap, design and delivery of solutions, supporting the run of the application, and maintainability.
Pravien Kumar Krishnakumar, Director, Technical Architecture
Salesforce, Naperville, Illinois, United States
Pravien, a Director and Technical Architect at Salesforce for 2 years, has nearly 18 years of industry experience. Leading multimillion-dollar programs, he focuses on researching the intersection of technology, AI, and the cloud to benefit customers. Committed to community engagement, he actively participates in speaking events, community outreach, and organizing committees.
Vipin Kumar, Vice President Of Software Engineering
JP Morgan Chase Bank, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Software Engineering working with JP Morgan Chase Bank, with over 18 years of experience in leading and managing enterprise application design and development. Exceptional leadership, Software Architecture, program management, cross-functional skills, and communication skills, coupled with industry insights into emerging opportunities.
Nicole Nutile, Manager, Client Success & CX
Wiley, Hoboken, New Jersey, United States
Nicole is an experienced professional with a history of leading projects to success in the customer care industry. With over ten years of experience managing contact center operations, she switched gears in 2021 to focus on Client Success and Customer Experience within the brand space.
Kaushikkumar Patel, Director of Data Development
TransUnion LLC, White Plains, New York, United States
Kaushikkumar Patel is the Director of Data Development at TransUnion, a position he has held since 2013. With over 14 years of experience in data management and analytics, Patel is committed to using data to inform decision-making and constantly enhance data processes.
Shellie Plymale, Co-Founder, Executive Consultant
OpTech Solutions, Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Shellie has over 30 years of experience in the contact center industry. Through the years, she has worked in both operations and technology divisions. Shellie is known for her innovation, thinking outside the box, and driving to deliver exceptional customer experiences, culminating in her co-owning OpTech Solutions with her partner Gina Gibson.
Peda Venkateswarlu Pola, Co-founder, CTO & Head of Product
OneShot AI, San Francisco, California, United States
Peda V. Pola, an accomplished product builder and technical leader, founded OneShot AI, a SaaS platform utilizing advanced AI and automation to innovate B2B sales prospecting. With a successful background, including a Salesforce exit and venture funding, Pola combines his expertise in cloud applications, patents, and product strategy with technical proficiency.
Ed Porter, Owner & Fractional Chief Revenue Officer
Blue Chip CRO, Columbus, Ohio, United States
Ed began his professional management career in 2001 and has led teams from startups to over 1,000 people with responsibilities for marketing, sales, customer experience, partnerships, and revenue operations. Ed has worked for service, software, and distribution companies, learning the foundations of delivering a powerful customer experience while driving value and effectiveness in sales.
Amit Rai, Senior AI/ML Customer Engineer
Google, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Amit Rai is a Seasoned Technology Leader at Google, with 17+ years of experience guiding businesses through digital transformation. He leverages expertise in AI, generative AI, and data analytics to empower enterprise leaders to build data-driven organizations. Amit is a passionate speaker and author on AI and Machine Learning.
Krishna Chaitanya Raja Hajarath, Senior Supply Planner
Cepheid, Lodi, California, United States
Krishna is a specialist in strategic supply chain and resilience planning. Well-known for his ability to solve complex problems and drive customer success, Krishna has made a significant impact in his field. He holds a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering and is pursuing an MBA from the Booth School of Business.
Siva Anand Rajavel, VP, Program Manager (Risk)
Citibank, Irving, Texas, United States
Siva, an IT professional with 16 years of experience in the banking and Insurance Industries, oversees Risk Data management, system development, and project management in Real Estate Lending. He specializes in SAS development, Python programming, regulatory reporting, data management, data governance, product/program management, applied generative AI, and LLM in the risk space.
Ramanathan Ramasubbu, Chief Operating Officer
Robotic Parking Systems Inc., Hillsborough, Florida, United States
Ramanathan is a Mechanical Engineer by profession with a strong aptitude and a results-driven approach, specializing as a Design Engineer, Project Manager, Technical Manager, and Operations Manager. Ramanathan brings over 21 years of extensive hands-on experience in core engineering, along with a rich background of 18+ years in automated parking systems.
Ketan Rathor, Senior Project Manager
GyanSys Inc., Carmel, Indiana, United States
Ketan Rathor has 23 years of IT Leadership experience in Project Management, Solution Architect, Digital Transformation, Analytics, Sales and Supply Chain. Ketan is an accomplished global technology industry leader with unique experience of working globally in his career in 15 countries around the world. He is passionate about building and transforming business processes.
Greg Salvato, CEO
TouchPoint One, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Greg Salvato, CEO of TouchPoint One, is an industry frontrunner in performance management and employee engagement solutions. Greg's visionary leadership fosters the seamless integration of data strategy, game mechanics, operational workflows, and AI technologies with contact centers, enhancing customer experiences and business success while paving the way for a future-ready workplace.
Jugendra Singh, Vice President /Lead Software Engineer
JP Morgan Chase, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Jugendra Singh has been vice president of JPMorgan Chase since 2022. He has more than 18 years’ experience in various technologies with full software development life cycles (SDLC). A postgraduate from the Department of Electronics and Accreditation of Computer Courses (DOEACC), he gives seminars and trainings within the company to colleagues.
Aakash Sirohi, CEO
New Hope Health Co., Broadlands, Virginia, United States
Aakash Sirohi, boasting over two decades of expertise across operations, strategy, project management, and resource optimization, has found his niche in cyber security and software implementation. His journey encompasses a rich tenure in the military, where he uncovered the potential of technology across diverse terrains, from deserts to mountains.
Dan Smitley, WFM Sage
Independent Consultant, Summerville, South Carolina, United States
Dan has spent the last 20 years in contact centers, leading 15 of those WFM teams with his curiosity and people-centric approach to work. His experience focuses on efficiency gains and customer experience improvements through increased employee engagement. He is a frequent speaker with organizations like SWPP, ICMI, and ContactNB.
Khushpreet Sohi, Software Engineering Manager
Meta Platforms Inc., Menlo Park, California, United States
Khushpreet is a strong advocate, enthusiast, and leader in the Youth Safety space at Meta. She spearheads product and technical solutions that help enhance teen safety across Meta apps, building on her prior leadership role in the innovative Messenger Kids app.
Jeevan Sreerama, Director of Artificial Intelligence
Soothsayer Analytics, Livonia, Michigan, United States
Jeevan is the Director of Artificial Intelligence at Soothsayer Analytics, bringing over 17 years of expertise in AI, Data Science, and Engineering. He is passionate about leveraging advancements in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, NLP, and Computer Vision. Jeevan holds a Master's degree from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University.
Joe Steuter, Senior Vice President, Communications
Carson Group, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
As the Senior Vice President of Corporate Communication, Joe leads Carson Group’s strategic communications and is responsible for informing, engaging, and inspiring the firm's 1000 stakeholders and partners. In addition, Joe helps steer executive PR and media relations. He brings 17 years of marketing, communications, and brand consulting experience to financial services.
Srilakshmi Tella, VP, Technical Product Management
Mckesson, Alpharetta, Georgia, United States
Srilakshmi Tella, Vice President of Technical Product Management at McKesson, leads transformative initiatives in digital technology. With over 20 years of expertise, she specializes in upgrading legacy systems and shapes strategic technology goals for Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, BackOffice Operations, Supply Chain, and more, driving innovation and efficiency across diverse domains.
Eliud Uwasenko, Human Resource Development Manager
Internal Revenue Commission, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Manjula Kumari V.V, CEO and Senior Physical Therapist
Varanaa's Health care Research and Training organization LLP, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Dr. V.V. Manjula Kumari has been the CEO of Varanaa’s health care research and training organization LLP since 2020, and she pursued her PhD in Healthcare Management from IICUT, Cambodia and Doctor of Physical Therapy; DPT from University of Montana, USA. She has 17 years of experience in Healthcare Management and operations management.
Corine Wofford, Founder/CEO
Corine Wofford International, LLC, San Antonio, Texas, United States
Corine Wofford is an award-winning founder, CEO, and mentor of a strategic business advisory firm in San Antonio, Texas. She teaches corporate leaders and women entrepreneurs from Dallas to Dubai her negotiation and leadership secrets, empowering them to save money, expand sales, and create a meaningful difference in the world.
Matt Woody, Senior Director, Contact Centers
First Financial Bank, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Matt has been Senior Director of Contact Centers for First Financial Bank since 2019. He has over 25 years of leading large contact center organizations, previously with Fifth Third Bank and Fidelity Investments. Matt is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and holds an MBA from Xavier University.