Who is the CIO of the Year? Help RIS Decide

Retail is a technology business. Individuals through the enterprise, from merchandisers at headquarters to associates on the sales floor, are reliant on technology in one capacity or another to get the job done. The implementation of innovative technology drives retail, and the people behind those deployments deserve to be recognized.

Nominations for RIS News' fifth annual CIO of the Year Awards are open, and the awards will honor those individuals that have implemented the greatest technological advancements in retail in the past year.

"We are always excited to begin the nomination process for the CIO of the Year," RIS News senior editor Tim Denman says. "There are so many well deserving retail executives to choose from, but we can't do it alone. We rely on our readers and partners to nominate their colleagues and to provide us with valuable insight into the work of the industry's top-performing CIOs."

Nominations are open to anyone in the retail and technology industries; click here to access the nominating form. The awards, to be presented at a gala dinner at the RIS News' Retail Executive Summit at the Montage Resort , Laguna, CA June 17, will be presented in three categories:

Innovation: Awarded to a CIO who implemented an emerging technology that drove ROI through top-line growth, improved customer satisfaction, or achieved bottom line savings.

Strategic Impact: Awarded to a CIO who implemented a project that is advancing the company in a new direction, market or channel(s).

Customer Engagement: Awarded to a CIO who has furthered the organization's connection with its customers through unique engagement initiatives.

A panel of judges consisting of RIS News staff and industry insiders will evaluate each nomination in terms of business and technology impact; nominations are open until April 13.