Enterprise Finalists

Whitney Chavez is a technology executive with more than 15 years of experience transforming IT into a strategic business partner. Having advanced from an intern into executive technology leadership, she brings a unique understanding of both frontline operations and enterprise strategy. Her work focuses on modernizing technology, strengthening cybersecurity, and developing high-performing teams prepared to support organizational readiness for the future.

One of my greatest success stories has been transforming the role of IT within the organization by focusing on rebuilding trust, strengthening accountability, and positioning my team to engage earlier in business decisions. Today, IT is increasingly relied upon to help solve Enterprise challenges, improve processes, manage risks and influence strategic direction. That transformation is greater than improved perception. It reflects a cultural shift in how technology contributes to the Enterprise and has created a stronger foundation for innovation, collaboration and long-term business value.

Stephanie Hines, RN, MBA, CHCIO, CDH-E, is Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Valleywise Health. A nationally recognized healthcare technology leader, she has led transformational technology strategies across some of the nation’s largest health systems. She oversees technology, digital transformation, cybersecurity, data and analytics, and enterprise technology services for Arizona’s largest public safety-net health system. Her leadership advances artificial intelligence, operational excellence, workforce effectiveness, organizational resilience, and improved patient outcomes.

Since joining Valleywise Health in 2024, Stephanie Hines has transformed technology into a strategic driver of healthcare innovation, operational excellence, and organizational resilience. Under her leadership, Valleywise achieved its first Epic Honor Roll designation and advanced EHR maturity, while accelerating AI adoption, cybersecurity modernization, infrastructure resilience, and digital transformation initiatives. She has championed clinical and revenue cycle workflow optimization to improve the experience of patients, providers, and staff while strengthening organizational performance. By empowering leaders, fostering innovation, and aligning technology strategy with mission and business priorities, Stephanie has positioned Valleywise Health for sustained success in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

Charles Ingram is EVP, Chief Information and Operations Officer of Pathward and Pathward Financial, leading Technology, Security, AI, Product Management, Strategic Banking Operations and Transformation. He joined as CIO in 2020. Previously he was Chief Product Officer at Nextiva and VP of IT at PetSmart, following leadership roles at Yum Brands, Pfizer and Wachovia. A 2022 Arizona CIO ORBIE winner, he holds an MBA from Wake Forest University and an undergraduate degree from Furman University.

Over my tenure, Pathward transformed from a traditional functionally oriented bank into a modern, fintech sponsorship platform — repositioning the company to compete and win as a partner-driven growth engine. We modernized to an API-first, cloud-enabled architecture and introduced a standardized product development model, growing partner onboarding significantly. During the past six years, revenue grew more than 60% and earnings per share doubled. Enabling all of it, we evolved from a generalist IT organization into a fintech and AI-specialized team. We didn’t modernize IT — we built the engine that allows Pathward to scale growth to support fintech speed with bank-grade discipline.

Beth McCormick is Chief Technology Officer of CAVA, where she leads technology, digital product, data and enterprise analytics for the high-growth Mediterranean restaurant brand. She has more than two decades of experience leading enterprise growth and transformation across CAVA, PetSmart and American Eagle Outfitters. Beth is recognized for translating complex technology opportunities into business outcomes and building scalable platforms, high-performing teams and trusted data capabilities that drive growth, operational performance, innovation and long-term enterprise value.

Beth McCormick transformed Technology at CAVA from a tactical delivery function into an enterprise capability for business growth and innovation. Under her leadership, Technology has made significant contributions across guest experience, restaurant operations, data, digital commerce and organizational productivity. CAVA Core, its trusted enterprise data foundation, and CAVA Current, its modern commerce platform, are examples of foundational innovations designed to increase the speed and impact of what follows. Beth has aligned technology investment closely with enterprise strategy, strengthened organizational capability and created a more scalable operating model that enables CAVA to innovate faster, create greater value and support continued growth.

Frank Sweeney serves as Assistant Director of Support Services and Chief Information Officer for the Arizona Department of Child Safety. He brings more than 30 years of experience across government, Fortune 1000 companies, private equity, consulting, and professional sports. He leads enterprise technology, cybersecurity, data, artificial intelligence, and organizational transformation. Frank is a nationally recognized technology leader, executive speaker, and U.S. patent holder. His leadership is grounded in a simple principle: Mission First. People Always.

At the Arizona Department of Child Safety, we are using responsible, human-centered AI to give employees serving children and families valuable time back. Our AI-supported tools have shortened certain reporting activities by 15 to 20 minutes, accelerated data-quality work by approximately 58%, and reduced legal rework by approximately 34%. Combined with a fully cloud-based environment and approximately 99.9% system availability, these improvements mean less time navigating administrative processes and more time focused on our mission. Human review remains central to every solution because technology should strengthen professional judgment, never replace it.