Awards Media Kit

About the Tennessee ORBIE® Awards

The ORBIE® is the preeminent executive recognition for C-suite leaders. Since 1998, the ORBIE Awards have recognized leadership excellence, building relationships between executives and trusted business partners, and inspiring the next generation of executives. Meet all finalists and winners at orbie.org.

Finalists and winners are selected through an independent peer-adjudicated process based on the following criteria:

• Leadership and management effectiveness
• Business value created by technology innovation and enterprise security
• Engagement in industry and community endeavors

2026 Tennessee ORBIE Awards Winners

• Robert Carter, FedEx, received the Leadership ORBIE.

• Lesley Ma, Nissan Americas, received the Large Enterprise ORBIE for organizations with over $10B annual revenue.

• David Jacques, ALSAC, received the Enterprise ORBIE for organizations with over $2.5B annual revenue.

• Kim Wismer, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLC, received the Large Corporate ORBIE for organizations with over $800M annual revenue.

• Charles Cooper, Meharry Medical College, received the Corporate ORBIE for organizations with up to $800M annual revenue.

• Matt Williams, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, received the CISO Large Enterprise ORBIE for organizations with over $1.5B annual revenue.

• Ben Hicks, National Healthcare Corporation, received the CISO Enterprise ORBIE for organizations with up to $1.5B annual revenue.

The ORBIE Award

The ORBIE® has been presented to every winner since the inception of the Awards in 1998. The ORBIE Award is synonymous with the excellence the Award represents, meticulously handcrafted from steel and crystal - symbols of honor and achievement. The ORBIE signifies exceptional leadership, innovation, and vision; representing the characteristics and qualities that inspire others to achieve their potential.

About TennesseeCIO & TennesseeCISO

TennesseeCIO and TennesseeCISO are the preeminent peer leadership networks of chief information officers (CIOs) and chief information security officers (CISOs) in Tennessee. As part of over 40 chapters of the Inspire Leadership Network, TennesseeCIO and TennesseeCISO belong to a national membership organization exclusively comprised of C-suite leaders from public and private businesses, government, education, healthcare, and nonprofit institutions.

TennesseeCIO and TennesseeCISO are led by a CIO and CISO Advisory Board, with support from an executive director and staff. Underwriter executives support the chapters and ensure the programs remain non-commercial and exclusive to qualified CIOs and CISOs and members.