Seattle's Top Tech Execs Honored at 2026 ORBIE Awards

CIOs and CISOs recognized for leadership, innovation, security, and business impact

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:15pm

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A highly detailed 3D illustration of a glowing, futuristic data center with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the servers, cables, and cooling systems, conceptually representing the advanced technology infrastructure powering the digital economy of the Pacific Northwest.The 2026 Seattle ORBIE Awards celebrated the visionary CIOs and CISOs driving digital transformation and cybersecurity innovation in the Pacific Northwest.Seattle Today

The 2026 Seattle ORBIE Awards celebrated leading chief information officers (CIOs) and chief information security officers (CISOs) from major Pacific Northwest organizations, including Weyerhaeuser, MultiCare Health System, BECU, Starbucks, Premera Blue Cross, Remitly, PCC Community Markets, Gesa Credit Union, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and PACCAR. The prestigious awards honored executives driving business transformation and industry impact through technology and security initiatives.

Why it matters

The ORBIE Awards are the ultimate recognition program for top CIOs and CISOs, highlighting the critical role these leaders play in driving business value through technology and security strategies. The awards showcase the innovation and leadership shaping the Pacific Northwest's economy.

The details

Hosted by the SeattleCIO and PacificNorthwestCISO chapters of the Inspire Leadership Network, the ceremony brought together over 450 executives and industry leaders to honor excellence across nine award categories. Winners were selected through an independent peer-adjudication process based on criteria such as leadership, business value creation, and community engagement.

  • The 2026 Seattle ORBIE Awards ceremony took place on April 16, 2026.
  • The awards recognized the achievements of CIOs and CISOs throughout the previous year.

The players

Sue Taylor

Former CIO, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, received the CIO Leadership ORBIE.

Chuck Markarian

Retired CISO, PACCAR, received the CISO Leadership ORBIE.

Rebecca Straka

CIO, Weyerhaeuser Company, received the Global ORBIE for organizations over $2 billion annual revenue and multi-national operations.

Scott Waters

CIO, MultiCare Health System & Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, received the Large Enterprise ORBIE for organizations over $3 billion annual revenue.

Nathan Ramachandran

EVP & CTO, BECU, received the Enterprise ORBIE for organizations over $800 million annual revenue.

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What they’re saying

“Behind every successful technology and security strategy is a CIO or CISO leading the vision.”

— Laurent Rotival, SeattleCIO Chair

“The ORBIE Awards recognize CIOs and CISOs who drive meaningful impact through leadership excellence. Finalists and winners highlight the business value of technology and security initiatives transforming Pacific Northwest's economy.”

— Chuck Markarian, PacificNorthwestCISO Chair

What’s next

The 2027 Seattle ORBIE Awards will be held in April 2027 to recognize the next generation of top technology and security leaders in the Pacific Northwest.

The takeaway

The ORBIE Awards showcase the critical role CIOs and CISOs play in driving innovation, security, and business value through technology initiatives. The 2026 winners highlight the Pacific Northwest's thriving tech ecosystem and the region's commitment to digital transformation.