Nonprofit/Public Sector Finalists

Andy Basinger is CTO at Monarch, leading enterprise IT strategy, operations, and security across the organization’s statewide footprint. Since joining in 2012, he has strengthened infrastructure, improved service delivery, and aligned technology with business goals. With over 40 years of experience, Andy specializes in cybersecurity, network architecture, systems management and cost optimization. He previously held senior leadership roles at New Breed Logistics and Food Lion. Andy resides in China Grove, North Carolina.

I know this seems odd to say but surviving a security incident was a significant accomplishment for our team and company. We accomplished resiliency, dedication, long work hours and this set our agency up for future success along with improved security standards. This was a pivotal moment where we shifted our focus on security and gained awareness within our company on the impact of security incidents. We also implemented many different technologies that have directly impacted people we support in their daily lives, and it is very rewarding to see the impact technology can make for those with disabilities.

Dave Brown is Chief Information Officer of Alliance Health, one of North Carolina's Medicaid Behavioral Health and I/DD Tailored Plans, where he leads a 115-person technology organization driving enterprise data modernization, interoperability, and governance. He previously served as CIO of Monarch, a North Carolina behavioral health provider, leading a new EHR implementation and helping attain Care Management Agency status. Earlier, he led enterprise data warehousing at Aurora St. Luke's in Milwaukee.

As CIO of Alliance Health, I led our Information Technology team through one of the organization's most significant transformations: the successful transition into a North Carolina Medicaid Behavioral Health and I/DD Tailored Plan. We strengthened the core technology foundation behind claims, care management, data integration, reporting, cybersecurity, and infrastructure, while elevating data as a true enterprise asset. Just as importantly, we began reshaping IT from a support function into a strategic partner to the business. These accomplishments extend well beyond technology, they help members access care, support providers, and equip leaders making decisions that affect communities across North Carolina.

Shelley Chandler is Chief Information Officer for the North Carolina Rate Bureau, North Carolina Reinsurance Facility, and North Carolina Insurance Guaranty Association. Since 2008, she has led initiatives that strengthen operations and support the insurance industry. She built a 27-member IT organization, advanced critical systems supporting North Carolina’s insurance market, and now leads a transformation focused on cloud, AI, modernization, and staff development to deliver long-term value.

My team’s greatest accomplishment is building the confidence, capability, and trust to modernize our technology environment while changing how work gets done. We are embedding AI into our work, learning quickly, and reshaping how requirements are defined, solutions are designed, code is tested, and systems are supported. This progress reflects years of investment in mentoring, leadership development, and accountability. We set clear direction, then empower people to think critically, challenge assumptions, and grow beyond their original roles. The result is an IT organization that is curious, confident, and focused on delivering transformation together.

Wake County CIO Jonathan Feldman is passionate about using technology to improve communities. He’s been named County Executive of the Year multiple times by GoldenGov; Public CIO of the year by NC Tech; awarded a Frost & Sullivan CIO Impact Award; and was named in Government Technology’s Top 25 Dreamers, Doers, and Drivers. Jonathan is widely acknowledged as a pioneer of cloud computing, digital transformation, and civic technology, with Forbes calling his efforts “IT done right.”

Since I arrived, IT has focused on People First, Growth Mindset, and Dependability. These values and a focus on partnership have moved IT from operational excellence to County service transformation, and led to a practical and sustainable approach to artificial intelligence, through a learning cohort that shares best practices and safely pushes the envelope. Support of low/no code led to many constituent outcomes, including better outcomes for Housing clients and streamlining County school nurse reporting.

All of this adds up. In 2025, Wake was recognized as the #1 County for Digital Citizen Experience.

Lonnie Snyder, a 30-year technology veteran, has spent the majority of his career helping nonprofits do more with less. Driven by a passion for mission and helping others, Lonnie and his wife have adopted three children with special needs from Taiwan. Lonnie directed enterprise-wide technology delivery for the Special Olympics 2026 USA Games and managed a $4.9M budget, supporting 3,000 athletes, 14,000 volunteers, and 75,000 spectators across 30 venues.

The CTO of the 5-ring Olympics has the same business systems and challenges to solve, he just has a $50M budget and 400 people. Sometimes, having no money is an asset, forcing you to connect with people and be very creative.The Special Olympics USA Games delivered an incredible $3.65M Games app that served as the passport and digital guide to our event on a $1M budget. The First Lady of Minnesota held her phone up, showing off the app to the CEO of Special Olympics International, and asked him to take it and share it with the world.