The Cisco Buyer Advocate Awards honor distinctive Cisco clients who exemplify innovation by means of their use of Cisco merchandise and options, and who share their successes by means of thought management, together with success tales, talking engagements, product critiques, and extra.
From executives to engineers, this years’ Cisco awards attracted a powerful combine of consumers from throughout the Americas. We obtained 100+ nominations and relied on the experience of greater than 32 judges—a mixture of Cisco leaders, engineers, architects, and technical specialists—to slim the record of candidates.
We’re excited to announce the shortlisted nominees for the fourth annual Cisco Buyer Advocate Awards: Americas 2024!
Â
Cybersecurity Defender of the 12 months
In right now’s related world, sturdy cybersecurity protects organizations in opposition to cyber threats, safeguards mental property and buyer information, and allows innovation. This is the reason the Cybersecurity Defender of the 12 months award acknowledges the shopper who prioritizes safety in each facet of their enterprise. These clients use Cisco safety options to boost resilience, maximize person uptime, keep enterprise continuity, and empower workers throughout all environments.
Congratulations to our shortlisted nominees:
Raja Sambandam—State of New Mexico Workplace of Cybersecurity
Matthew Barczak and Paul Oyelakin—Marriott Worldwide
Dwayne Robinson—SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park
John Skaarup—Texas Division of Transportation (TxDOT)
Veronica Martinez Estrada—Grupo Xcaret
Â
Hybrid Work Hero
How we work has modified, which is why the Hybrid Work Hero award acknowledges the shopper who has carried out the perfect hybrid work technique to empower groups or rethink workspaces. Whether or not by utilizing new options to make each house a collaborative workspace, modernizing their safety to handle and shield worker units, or designing the community to help seamless and cohesive work experiences, the Hybrid Work Hero deserves recognition for deploying an answer that makes hybrid work, work for everybody!
Congratulations to our shortlisted nominees:
Nicole Alderete-Ferrini—Metropolis of El Paso, Texas
Dale Walters—State of Illinois
Steve Hilliard—Ford Motor Firm
Invoice Sheff, Alex Pop, and Justin Priebe—M&T Financial institution
Wendy Williams—McKesson
Â
![](https://storage.googleapis.com/blogs-images/ciscoblogs/1/2024/05/JohnPell-300x199.jpg)
Reimagine Purposes Visionary
Purposes are the storefront for organizations right now, and so they’re used to innovate, rework the enterprise, and reap the benefits of new digital fashions and income streams. The Reimagine Purposes Visionary award honors the shopper who makes use of Cisco Full-Stack Observability (FSO) to maneuver past conventional monitoring. In doing so, these visionaries profit from a complete view of their purposes’ efficiency, safety, and influence on enterprise outcomes. Recognizing their modern use of open, extensible, and AI/ML-enhanced FSO options, this award celebrates those that have aligned IT operations with enterprise targets to ship seamless, safe person experiences.
Congratulations to our shortlisted nominees:
David Cornette and Jonathan Silberlicht—T-Cell
James Kluttz—Sutter Well being
Michael Verret—Inside Income Service (IRS)
Pat Spinler and Matt Dupay—Mayo Clinic
Â
Transformation Trailblazer
In right now’s high-tech, high-expectation setting, simplified IT experiences assist organizations fulfill clients, retain workers, and stand out from opponents. Organizations are adopting a cloud working mannequin throughout their IT stacks to boost agility and streamline complexity, whereas prioritizing safe networking to handle dangers and keep superior person experiences regardless of an more and more intricate menace panorama. The Transformation Trailblazer award acknowledges the shopper who excels in utilizing Cisco options to simplify community and expertise challenges and guarantee safe international connectivity.
Congratulations to our shortlisted nominees:
Ron Grohman—Bush Brothers & Firm
Jeanette Jaede and Arun Joshi—Amazon: Challenge Kuiper
Ian Hyatt—Purdue College
Jeff Peterson—LPL Monetary
Leandro César Lopes Evangelista—Area MRV
Todd Stewart—Honeywell Worldwide
Â
Sustainability Changemaker
The Sustainability Changemaker award celebrates a buyer who makes use of Cisco’s modern options to assist scale back environmental impacts and drive sustainability. From vitality administration platforms to good constructing options that assist optimize effectivity, to refreshed information middle {hardware} constructed with round design ideas and extra vitality environment friendly infrastructure than earlier generations, Cisco can assist organizations embrace circularity and adapt to a low-carbon financial system. This award acknowledges transformative efforts in utilizing Cisco’s options for vitality administration, information middle modernization, clear vitality transitions, round enterprise transformation, good buildings, and different sustainability initiatives.
Congratulations to our shortlisted nominees:
Nicole Alderete-Ferrini—Metropolis of El Paso, Texas
Tim Roberts—St. Anne Institute
Dani Stern—Honeywell Worldwide
Roger Bathroom—NetApp
Â
Synthetic Intelligence Pioneer
The world is quickly altering with the usage of synthetic intelligence and machine studying, and the Synthetic Intelligence Pioneer award celebrates the early adopter. These pioneers innovate by means of AI options inside their Cisco merchandise or integration with different AI product—whether or not their very own resolution or one created by an ecosystem companion. This award honors those that lead AI innovation, pushing the boundaries of what’s doable and paving the way in which for the way forward for expertise.
Congratulations to our shortlisted nominees:
Bruce Thompson, Phyllis Kimber, and Denise Beckwith—Georgia Division of Labor
Michael Verret—Inside Income Service (IRS)
Â
Trade Excellence
The Trade Excellence award celebrates organizations who use Cisco options to resolve widespread challenges confronted throughout their {industry}, particularly those that have created industry-wide change. Celebrating organizations who surpass {industry} norms, this award acknowledges distinctive achievements and the pursuit of progress in right now’s setting.
Congratulations to our shortlisted nominees:
Max Hernandez—Toyota Motor North America
Jarrett Newberry and Robert Bibey—Burrell Behavioral Well being
Sophia Mohr—Central Ohio Transit Authority
Mike (Mac) McNamara—Dish Community
Veronica Martinez Estrada—Grupo Xcaret
Â
Americas Buyer Advocate of the 12 months
The Advocate of the 12 months has constantly contributed to the larger Cisco Insider Advocates neighborhood, supporting others by means of mentorship, neighborhood constructing, greatest observe sharing, and advocacy. This award acknowledges the shopper whose acts of advocacy made probably the most vital influence on the Cisco neighborhood.
Congratulations to our shortlisted nominees:
Mark Rodrigue—Room & Board
Josh Beaver—T-Cell
Marcus Labra—Carnival Company
Christopher Cavendish—Perception International
Â
Congratulations to all our Cisco Buyer Advocate Awards: Americas 2024 finalists!
We applaud every of you in your ardour, innovation, and thought management. We sit up for celebrating you at Cisco Dwell Las Vegas subsequent month!
In the event you’d wish to see which of those superb finalists rises above the remainder, be part of us throughout the awards ceremony on June 3! Register right here.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Share: