Career Communications Group recognizes leaders shaping the future of artificial intelligence, technology, education, industry and the workforce
(BALTIMORE – September 17, 2026) — Donald “Doni” Glover, founder and publisher of BMORENews.com, has been selected for Special Recognition as part of the 2026 AiNEXTGEN America Futurist Awards.
Presented by Career Communications Group, the awards recognize leaders, innovators, researchers, educators, executives, organizations, and emerging talent contributing to the future of artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, energy, healthcare technology, defense, education, workforce development, and other emerging technologies.
Glover joins a world-class cohort of honorees representing industry, government, higher education, entrepreneurship, research and community organizations.
“I sincerely thank the 2026 Futurist Awards Committee, including Dr. Tyrone Taborn, for this tremendous recognition,” said Glover. “‘Doc’ has believed in our work for many years. His door has always been open, but more importantly, he has served as our fearless leader for four decades. I am truly humbled and honored, and I thank God for this distinguished recognition alongside such a world-class cohort of honorees.”
Dr. Tyrone Taborn is publisher, chairman, and CEO of Career Communications Group, the Black-owned media company behind US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine, the BEYA Awards, Women of Color STEM, and other influential publications, conferences, and workforce-development platforms. For more than four decades, Taborn has built one of the nation’s most consequential Black-led STEM media enterprises, connecting generations of students and professionals with education, employment, recognition and opportunity.
Glover founded BMORENews.com in 2002 and has spent more than two decades documenting politics, business, entrepreneurship, and community affairs in Baltimore and beyond. He also serves as News Director of STEMCITYUSA.com, an immersive digital platform developed by Career Communications Group.
“As a Black publisher, I understand what it takes to build, sustain, and grow an independent media institution. Doc Taborn’s work through US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine and Career Communications Group has created a global platform that documents Black excellence while preparing future generations to lead in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and now artificial intelligence.”
Glover said Dr. Taborn’s leadership has consistently focused on ensuring that technological advancement creates opportunities for communities that have historically been excluded.
“Through it all, Dr. Tyrone Taborn has consistently made it his mission to close the digital divide, especially within our communities across the globe,” Glover said. “Serving on his team as News Director of STEMCITYUSA.com has allowed our voice to be amplified even further in the metaverse.”
“We should all be grateful for this visionary leader. A preacher once said that you know you have the Holy Spirit when you help empower others. To say the least, Doc has done that a million times—and there is much more to come.”
Career Communications Group CEO and Publisher Tyrone Taborn said the awards honor people and organizations that are turning ideas about the future into meaningful action.
“The Futurist Awards recognize people and organizations who are not simply anticipating the future, but actively building it,” Taborn said. “These honorees represent the leadership, imagination and commitment needed to translate technological advancement into opportunity and impact.”
Leading the 2026 honors are Dr. Dario Gil, Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy, named Futurist of the Year, and Isabella Piña, CEO, president, and founder of Inspired Solutions, named Technologist of the Year.
2026 AiNEXTGEN America Futurist Awards Honorees
Futurist of the Year
- Dario Gil, Ph.D., Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy
Technologist of the Year
- Isabella Piña, CEO, President and Founder, Inspired Solutions
Industry and Technology
Advanced Manufacturing Leader
- Charlisha Greene, Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Integration–Air Dominance, The Boeing Company
- Christopher Johnston, Contracting Officer, Army Contracting Command–Detroit Arsenal
- Jay Lee, Sc.D., Director, Industrial Artificial Intelligence Center, University of Maryland
AI Innovator
- Jeannice Fairrer Samani, Ph.D., CEO and Managing Director, Fairrer Samani Group, LLC
- Daniel Sierra-Sosa, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Digital Infrastructure Leader
- Lucia Chung, Vice President and CIO, Engineering and Product Support, The Boeing Company
- Robert Slone, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientist, UL Solutions
Energy Pioneer
- Anthony Kinslow II, Ph.D., CEO and Founder, Gemini Energy Solutions
- Migo Szeman Ng, Ph.D., Principal Research Scientist, UL Research Institutes
Financial Technology Leader
- Thomas Phillips, Chief of the Intelligence and Security Command and the Ground Vehicle Systems Center, Army Contracting Command–Detroit Arsenal
Healthcare Technology Leader
- Betsy Butler, Program Manager, Tanaq Health
- Qian Zhang, Ph.D., Research Scientist IV, UL Research Institutes
Maritime and Defense Innovator
- Juan Henderson, Acting PEG Chief, Air Force Materiel Command, AFNWC/NIZ Engineer
Workforce, Community and Impact
AI Governance Leader
- The Catholic University of America
- Ryan McManus, Founder, techtonic.io
AI Thought Leader
- Center for Responsible AI at Virginia State University
- David Shrier, Professor of Practice, AI and Innovation, Imperial College London Business School
Community Workforce Impact Leader
- Kara Branch, Founder and CEO, Black Girls Do Engineer
- Christine Burkette, CEO, Promising Integrations Consulting Firm
- Rozlyn Chambliss, Ph.D., Program Integrator, The Boeing Company
Corporate Responsibility Leader
- Heidi Spahn, Global Corporate and Community Investment, Corteva Agriscience
Educator of the Future — Agentic FuturePath AI
- Kim Lewis, Ph.D., Vice President for Research and Chief Research Officer, Howard University
- Becki Rowan-White, Senior Education Programs Manager, UL Research Institutes
Future Workforce Employer
- Tamika King, Site Facility Manager, Leadec
- Andrea Lewis-Allen, Senior Manager, The Boeing Company
- Sol Rashidi, CEO, ExecutiveAI
Humanitarian Impact
- Michael Parr, CEO, SAFE AI
Workforce Development Leader
- University of Maryland Global Campus
Creative and Emerging Technology
Creative Technology Innovator
- Audapt, LLC
Interactive Media Innovator
- Tennessee State University, SMART Center
- Valeria Palacios Cruz, Student, Ceulver/TecNM University
Special Recognition
- Kemal Badur, Assistant Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, University of Chicago
- Branville Bard Jr., D.P.A., Vice President for Public Safety, Johns Hopkins University
- Stephan Daniels, Product Quality Manager, Apple Inc.
- Donald “Doni” Glover, Founder and Publisher, BMORENews.com
- Tammie Jones-Jefferson, Regulatory and Stewardship Leader, Corteva Agriscience
- Aleksandra Przegalińska, Professor and Vice Rector for Innovations and AI, Kozminski University
- Amy Webb, CEO and Founder, Future Today Strategy Group
The 2026 Futurist Awards highlight the breadth of leadership driving technological transformation. This year’s honorees reflect an increasingly connected ecosystem of professionals and institutions shaping artificial intelligence and the future of work, industry and society.
The AiNEXTGEN America Conference and Futurist Awards convene leaders, innovators, educators, technologists and emerging talent to explore artificial intelligence and other technologies shaping the future.
Career Communications Group, Inc. is a media, workforce development and technology organization dedicated to advancing opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through its publications, conferences, digital platforms, and STEM City USA initiatives, the organization connects students, professionals, educators, employers, and communities.
