Customer Service & Contact Center Achievement Awards Judging Committee
Rachel Guanwei Tao
Manager, New Business & Customer Strategy, TriMas, Pasadena, California, United States
Rachel Guanwei Tao is a global medical device product leader, author, and innovation strategist with more than 18 years of experience driving commercialization, product development, and growth across the U.S., Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Recognized for leading breakthrough innovations and cross-border product launches, she brings a wealth of cross-functional expertise in product strategy, marketing innovation, and leadership development to her role as Chair of the Stevie Awards judging panel. Currently serving as Manager of New Business and Customer Strategy at TriMas. Rachel has held senior product leadership positions at Abbott, Getinge, DJO, Acumed, and Johnson & Johnson Medical, where she successfully led global product launches and market expansion programs. Her leadership philosophy—rooted in empathy, innovation, and empowerment—has inspired teams to deliver transformative healthcare solutions that improve lives worldwide. Beyond her corporate career, Rachel is a Ph.D. candidate in Business Leadership, a Global Business Advisor for How Women Lead, and a published author of Embrace the Journey: Heart Notes and Home Between East and West. Through her Trail & Tale Project and public speaking, she advocates for resilience, inclusion, and purpose-driven leadership. As a Stevie Awards Chair, Rachel is dedicated to celebrating exceptional professionals whose innovation, perseverance, and impact continue to redefine leadership in today’s rapidly evolving business world.
Samet Aldemir
Training and Development Manager, İGA İstanbul Airport, İstanbul, Turkey
Throughout Samet’s career, he has worked on corporate academy structures, leadership and competency development, building learning cultures, and project-based development solutions.
Mark Aronauer
VP of Public Relations, ACA Group, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
As Vice President of Public Relations at ACA Group, Mark led the organization’s national outreach and represented the company at events and community forums across the country. He educates timeshare owners on their legal rights and safe, attorney-supported exit options while strengthening ACA’s reputation and community trust.
Ronakkumar Bathani
Manager, Resmed, Cumming, Georgia, United States
Ronak is a certified SnowPro Advanced Architect and AWS Solution Architect with expertise in designing data environments. He holds certifications in Oracle PL/SQL and Informatica. Known for his strong communication skills and ability to simplify complex concepts, he's a trusted partner and mentor who fosters team development through leadership, empathy, and commitment.
Rajesh Devaraj
Operations Manager, Controlled Networks Solution, Hackensack, New Jersey, United States
Senior technology leader and researcher with over 15 years of international experience across the United States and India. Currently serves in a senior managerial role at Controlled Networks, USA, where he oversees enterprise telecommunications and cloud service operations. Previously held director-level roles with responsibility for cross-border technical teams and strategic initiatives.
Tony Keesee
Vice President, Payment Support Services, Optum Financial, Richardson, Texas, United States
Tony leads the award-winning commercial payment support teams at Optum Financial. He has over 30 years of experience in providing leadership and expertise in developing best-in-class centers. He is recognized for exceeding operational metrics, team productivity, motivation, and innovation in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer organizations.
Ashoka Poojari
Senior Manager Technical Commercial Applications, Align technology inc, Apex, North Carolina, United States
Senior Engineering Manager/Architect with extensive experience leading enterprise technology strategy, architecture, and delivery across complex, global organizations. Proven ability to define and govern scalable, secure, and resilient platforms while aligning engineering execution with business objectives. Deep domain expertise includes CRM platforms, pricing and monetization systems, and mobility.
Sravan Kumar Vadithala
Global manager for Repairs, Parts & Service Proposal Management, Air Products and Chemicals, Katy, Texas, United States
Sravan Kumar has over 16 years of progressive leadership experience spanning application engineering, proposal and project management, product design, and sales across complex industrial and energy systems. His career has focused on translating advanced engineering solutions into scalable, profitable business outcomes across global markets. He has led and supported diversified product portfolios.
