CELEBRATING BLACK EXCELLENCE
2025 NOLA Tech 30 – 30 Days and 30 Techies.
Congratulations to all of this year’s NOLA Tech 30 honorees. NOLA Tech 30 is an opportunity to recognize the Black and Brown creatives, innovators and advocates making a mark in tech. Tech wouldn’t be tech without us!
In 2025, we celebrated trailblazers in AI and Emerging Technologies across Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Gaming, Extended Reality, Augmented Reality and Web3. We are thankful to these amazing leaders who represent exactly what Black Excellence looks like!
2025 Honorees
Marques Colston
Entrepreneur & Investor
Champion Venture Partners
Hiwot Sidelil
Big Data AI Software Engineer
DXC Technology
Kellen Francis
CEO & Founder
CodeGig
Devin Dickerson
Principal Analys
Forrester
Shawn Every
CEO and Founder
Ask AI With Shawn
Marlon Butler
Co-Founder
Savaunt Ai
Gerren Smith
AI/ML engineer
Patrick Young
National Vice President
Youth Advocate Programs Inc.
Jeremy Duncan
Virtual Reality & Mixed Reality Content Creator & Metaverse Evangelist
Getting Things Dun
Angie Jones
Global VP, Developer Relations
Block
Brent DeLArge
Entrepreneur & Founder
NOLA Grown & Unchained Realities
Miranda Myles Jackson, MA, MFA
Department Head - Art & Performance Studies
Xavier University of Louisiana
Shika Duncan
Founder
Onyx Leaf Media
Kashmir Sanders
Innovation Coordinator
MCCNO
Brian Lundin
Owner
Busara Creative
Diego Pinzon
CEO
DAWn Audio
Ken Calvin
Senior Project Manager
Experian
Aisha Jackson
CEO & Founder
Universal Impact Press & Arete Media International
Sonthia Coleman
Founder & CEO
The MVN Tech Group
Shaney Washington
Founder
CoAIve
Patrick Sutton
Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager: Privacy/AI
Elevance Health
Penny Williams
COO + Executive Director
Excite All Stars
Jasmine Thomas
Senior Director, Innovation + Society
Microsoft
Marcus Rosser
Founder
Rosser NFT Gallery
Dr. Terrell L. Cavlin
IT Leadership
University of New Orleans
Cherie LaCour-Duckworth
Vice President of Workforce Development
Urban League of Louisiana
Allyson McKinney
CTE Instructor
New Orleans Career Center
Akilah Gordon
IT Specialist
City of New Orleans
Corey Harris
Security Strategist
Darren Walker
CEO
BEAN (Building Economic Advancement Network)