Global Finalists

Talal Butt is Chief Information Officer of Generac, where he leads the global IT organization spanning digital commerce, data and AI, infrastructure, cybersecurity and enterprise applications. He previously served as Global Vice President of Enterprise Transformation and Architecture at Rockwell Automation, with prior leadership roles at Robert W. Baird, Covance and GE Healthcare. A two-time CIO 100 award winner, he holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Under Talal Butt's leadership, the team adopted an enterprise agile operating model that delivers business value faster and aligns business and IT leaders worldwide around shared goals.

ChaChi Gallo is Vice President of Information Technology at Michels Corporation, where he leads the global technology strategy across the company’s operating companies and 10,000 employees. He has evolved Global IT into a strategic business partner, advancing cybersecurity, federal compliance, and enterprise transformation. A champion of emerging talent, ChaChi is committed to building career pathways into technology for underserved communities

I built my IT career without a college degree, on capability and drive, and I lead the same way I hire. I look for the eager and willing, not the loudest resume. At Michels, I brought order to Global IT and evolved it from executor to strategic partner across every operating company. I invest in talent others overlook, partnering with the best community partners. My philosophy is simple. I am the compass, not the GPS. I set the direction and trust my people to find the route.

Chris Howe serves as Chief Digital Information Officer at A.O. Smith, where he leads enterprise IT and digital transformation. A C-suite veteran with deep P&L experience, he was previously CEO of a GenAI and Cloud Transformation consulting firm and served as SVP of Business Transformation at 3M. Chris earned his MS in Management of Technology from the University of Minnesota and serves on the boards of the Minneapolis Institute of Art and Minnesota Technology Association.

Global technology and business transformation executive with +23y of progressive leadership across industries and company types. Recognized as a strategic change agent and trusted C-Suite partner, driving enterprise-wide digital transformation, operational excellence and sustainable growth while connecting the benefits directly to the P&L.Proven record of shaping and executing global IT and digital strategies, scaling organizations and delivering measurable business outcomes. Expertise in AI, Enterprise Architecture and Global Ops.

Kyle McMillan serves as the Chief Information and Technology Officer at Plexus Corp. He took on the CIO role in 2022 and expanded his responsibilities to include global technology in 2024. Since joining Plexus in 2013, Kyle has held positions in customer management, aftermarket services and global operations. He currently chairs the Global Technology, Technology and Innovation and Security Steering Committees. Kyle holds a B.Eng. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Strathclyde University.

One of my proudest accomplishments is watching my team lead the successful rollout of Google Workspace across 26 global facilities and 20,000 team members. They drove the integration, training, and adoption—transforming how we work together. Their leadership broke down silos, enabled real-time collaboration across time zones, and simplified communication. By embracing change, they built a more agile, connected culture and positioned our organization for scalable, AI-ready growth. Seeing them step out of their comfort zones to drive such a high-impact initiative has been a defining moment in our growth journey.