Corporate Finalists

I lead technology strategy and operations. With more than 20 years of insurance industry experience, I’ve held leadership roles across technology, finance, accounting, acquisitions, and divestitures. In 2024, I took on the additional responsibility of leading the Badger Mutual affiliation integration. Prior to joining Rural Mutual, I worked for WEA/NeuGen, QBE, Allstate, Group Health Cooperative, and TDS. I’m passionate about aligning technology and business strategy to drive growth, efficiency, and organizational transformation.

When I joined Rural Mutual, I inherited 25 years of technical debt that was slowing business operations. The IT team was understaffed, working with outdated technologies, and lacked opportunities to develop modern skills. I empowered the team to build a modernization roadmap and training strategy while securing additional funding for staffing, software, and professional development. Over the past three years, we expanded the team, implemented Snowflake for enterprise reporting, and launched a transformation program to modernize our Policy, Billing, Claims, CRM, Rating, and POS systems. Today, the team is energized and building a scalable technology foundation for Rural Mutual’s future.

Andy Knauf is CIO at Mead & Hunt, with 36+ years of IT leadership in the AEC industry. He leads enterprise strategy across AI adoption, ERP modernization, cloud, and cybersecurity — aligning technology to real business outcomes. Andy chairs the CIO Design Professionals Coalition, co-chairs the Business Applications for AI Focus Group, and leads ACEC CIO roundtables. A frequent national speaker and trusted mentor, he’s known for pragmatic leadership and bridging strategy with execution.

AI has become a defining success story for Mead & Hunt. Our enterprise rollout of Microsoft Copilot, paired with our move to E7 licensing and a firm-wide AI governance framework, has transformed how we work — accelerating proposals, design workflows, and back-office tasks across all 32 offices. Adoption is strong, productivity gains are measurable, and our team is building real AI fluency every day. More than the tools themselves, AI has sparked a culture of curiosity and continuous learning, positioning Mead & Hunt as a recognized AI leader in the AEC industry and a model for responsible, practical adoption.

Maity is Chief Information Officer at Fincantieri Marine Group, the U.S. shipbuilding arm of Fincantieri S.p.A., where he leads enterprise IT, cybersecurity, data, and AI. Over two decades, he has built and modernized technology functions across global manufacturing, automotive, CPG, and defense, earning a reputation as a trusted CEO and board partner. A two-time Wisconsin Titan 100 honoree (2025, 2026), Maity turns IT into a growth and trust engine for the businesses he leads.

I joined Fincantieri to change what IT means inside a shipbuilding company. Three years in, technology is no longer something the business waits on, it’s how we win programs, hit milestones and protect our data. We rebuilt the foundation on cloud, modernized SAP as the operating backbone, and on leveraging AI directly into how we inspect, plan, and decide. We built a 24/7 Security Operations Center because in our industry, resilience is a license to operate. The result is a smaller, sharper IT function. This is one the CEO, CFO and program leaders trust to lead not just deliver.

Jeff Marshall is a seasoned IT executive with over two decades of experience spearheading digital transformation and operational excellence through strategic leadership. As Director of Technology at VJS Construction Services, he leads enterprise-wide IT initiatives that align with business objectives and optimize processes. His core strengths include leadership, application management, cybersecurity, and enterprise architecture. Jeff is a trusted advisor in navigating change and driving continuous improvement with a hands-on approach and never give up attitude.

In today’s complex technical landscape, organizations thrive not just by reacting to challenges, but by anticipating them. At VJS, I’ve had the privilege of leading a team that has done exactly that — a team whose dedication, agility, and expertise have strengthened our organization’s cybersecurity posture, elevated our use of data analytics, ensured system reliability, and driven meaningful process improvements across departments. We have embraced new technology such as second-generation firewalls, endpoint protection and MFA across the enterprise. The most important part of this is employee and leadership buy in that it will be done right and cost effective.

Matt Wudy is Chief Information Officer at Delta Defense. He leads the technology organization through a product-led transformation and an enterprise AI strategy that treats technology as a driver of growth, not a cost center. Previously, Matt held progressive technology leadership positions at Accenture and Kohl’s, leading major transformations. Matt serves on MSOE’s Computer Science Industry Advisory Committee, advising his alma mater on the industry’s expectations for future graduates.

When a direct report showed a spark of interest in AI, I bet on it. I handed them real assignments, then raised the stakes, having them architect our systems and lead AI workshops across the company. They were no expert, and the deep end was uncomfortable. But discomfort built mastery. I created moments for them to present to our executive team, sharpening their presence with each appearance. Today, that same person is on track to lead our entire AI practice at Delta Defense, backed by the full support of the company. Talent does not need permission. It needs a runway.