Maryland Tech Council Announces Finalists for 2025 ICON Awards

Winners to be Celebrated at the Industry Awards Celebration on May 21

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Maryland Tech Council (MTC), the state’s largest technology and life sciences trade association, has announced the finalists for the 2025 ICON Awards. These prestigious awards recognize outstanding leadership and innovation in Maryland’s technology and life sciences industries. Winners will be revealed at the annual Industry Awards Celebration on May 21, 2025, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in North Bethesda, MD.

“This year’s ICON Awards finalists represent the best and brightest in Maryland’s innovation economy,” said Kelly Schulz, CEO of the Maryland Tech Council. “Their contributions are driving economic growth, advancing technology, and making a lasting impact on the state’s life sciences and technology industries. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at the Industry Awards Celebration.”

Finalists for the 2025 ICON Awards include:

• Life Sciences CEO of the Year
  • Jesse Christopher, Co-Founder and CEO, Longeviti Neuro Solutions
  •  Helen Sabzevari, Ph.D., President and CEO, Precigen
  • Vidya Chari, Co-Founder and CEO, Axle
  • Katherine Stueland, CEO, GeneDx
• Technology CEO of the Year
  • Peter Chapman, President and CEO, IonQ
  • Elizabeth Clayborne, Co-Founder and CEO, NasaClip
  • Sathya Elumalai, President and CEO, Aidar Health
  • Aida Keehner, CEO, Atruent
  • Xiaonao Liu, CEO, Nanobiofab
• Government Contracting CEO of the Year
  • Raghu Akkapeddi, CEO, Index Analytics
  • Gary Daigle, CEO, RealmOne
  • Rajan Natarajan, CEO, Global Alliant
  • Anil Sharma, CEO, 22nd Century Technologies
  • Gurpreet Singh, CEO, Infotrend
• C-Suite of the Year
  • Damien Bates, Chief Medical Officer, Cellphire Therapeutics
  • Robert Charles, Chief Financial Officer, Digital Harbor Foundation
  • Steven Tropello, Chief Medical Officer, CoapTech
• C-Suite COO of the Year
  • Matt Boxer, COO, Veralox Therapeutics
  • Mitch Franklin, COO, BIOQUAL
  • Jackie Linaberry, COO, JJA Technical Services
• Life Sciences Company of the Year
  • CoapTech
  • GeneDx
  • Mindoula Health
• Technology Company of the Year
  • The Canton Group
  • Comcast Business
  • CompassMSP
  • Govplace
• Government Contracting Company of the Year
  • Digital Infuzion
  • Global Alliant
  • Index Analytics
  • RealmOne
• Emerging Life Sciences Company of the Year
  • CraniUS
  • Mblue Labs
  • Precigen
  • Silvec Biologics
  • TrilliumBIO
• Emerging Technology Company of the Year
  • Epoch
  • JumpLights
  • RedZone Technologies
  • RF Safety Laboratory
  • xop.ai
• Emerging Government Contracting Company of the Year
  • Black Eagle Defense
  • McBee Moore & Vanik IP Law
  • Procurement Sciences
  • Phoenix Integrators
• Pava LaPere Young Innovator of the Year
  • Adeola Ajani, MBA, Founder and CEO, Fem Equity
  • Yoseph Kim, CEO, Optosurgical
  • Rebecca Rosenberg, Founder and CEO, ReBokeh
  • Selena Shirkin, Founder, Fetal Therapy Technologies
  • Alden Sullivan, Co-Founder and CTO, Uneo Health

The Industry Awards Celebration is the premier event recognizing Maryland’s top leaders, and companies that are shaping the future of their industries. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with industry peers, celebrate Maryland’s innovation economy, and honor the achievements of this year’s ICON Awards winners.

For more information about the Industry Awards Celebration and to purchase tickets, visit https://mdtechcouncil.com/icon-awards/

About the Maryland Tech Council

The Maryland Tech Council (MTC) is a collaborative community that is actively engaged in building strong technology and life science industries by supporting the efforts of our individual members. We are the largest technology and life sciences trade association in the state of Maryland, and we provide value by giving members a forum to learn, share, and connect. With 700+ member organizations, MTC brings the region’s community together into a single, united organization that empowers our members to achieve their business goals through advocacy, networking, and education. The vision for the Maryland Tech Council is to propel Maryland to become the number one innovation economy for life sciences and technology in the country. Follow us at mdtechcouncil.com, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Youtube.