MTSU’s CIO among top tech executives recognized at 2025 Tennessee Orbie Awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Yvette Clark, chief information officer and vice president of the Information Technology Division at Middle Tennessee State University, was recently honored among the state’s top tech executives at the 2025 Tennessee Orbie Awards.

Yvette Clark, Acting VP, CIO, Information Technology Division — Yvette Clark

A finalist for the awards last year in the public sector/government category, Clark captured the top award this year in the Corporate Orbie category for organizations up to $1 billion in annual revenue.

Hosted by peer leadership network TennesseeCIO, a chapter of the Inspire Leadership Network, the award ceremony honored CIOs and C-suite technology leaders who drive business transformation and industry impact, according to an Inspire news release.

Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU President — Dr. Sidney A. McPhee

“Yvette’s outstanding leadership of our information technology team continues to provide excellent technical support to keep our students, faculty and staff with the tools they need to be successful,” said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee. “My congratulations to her for this well-deserved recognition by her peers.”

Clark credited the recognition to her IT colleagues.

“No one stands on this stage alone. This recognition belongs to the incredible IT team I work with every day,” she said in accepting her award. “Their commitment and collaboration help us reach milestones and fulfill our mission. At Middle Tennessee State University, I’m privileged to work alongside an administration that places purpose and students at the center of everything we do. It has been rewarding to watch students find their path and change their lives.”

In addition to Clark, executives from Sedgwick, Dollar General, Baptist Memorial Health Care, Ballad Health, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Inc. were recognized. Find the complete list of 2025 Tennessee Orbie Award winners here.

Yvette Clark, second from left, chief information officer and vice president of the Information Technology Division at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., is among the 2025 Tennessee Orbie Award recipients recognized Friday, May 2, at an awards ceremony at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. Clark was recognized in the corporate category, one of eight award categories to recognize the state’s top tech executives. (Courtesy of the Tennessee Orbie Awards)

Winners were selected from among 35 finalists across eight categories: global, large enterprise, enterprise, large corporate, corporate, CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) large enterprise, CISO enterprise, and leadership. The ceremony, which took place May 2 at the Omni Nashville Hotel and drew over 400 attendees, brought together top executives and industry leaders to celebrate excellence in technology leadership.

The keynote address for the awards ceremony was delivered by J. Tod Fetherling, author and speaker, who was interviewed by Andy Flatt, senior vice president and chief information officer of National HealthCare Corp.

“Great technology executives understand how connections drive transformation,” said Al Smith, TennesseeCIO chair. “The Orbie Awards recognize CIOs and CISOs who leverage relationships to drive innovation, solve complex challenges, and shape the future of Tennessee.”

Clark was named to her current position in April 2023 after serving in an interim role starting in February 2022. She began her tenure at MTSU in August 2021 as the associate vice president of enterprise application systems.

Clark holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Tennessee Tech University.

About the Orbie

The Orbie, stylized as ORBIE, is the preeminent executive recognition for C-suite leaders. Since 1998, the Orbie Awards have recognized leadership excellence, building relationships between executives and trusted business partners, and inspiring the next generation of executives.

Finalists and winners are selected through an independent peer-adjudicated process led by prior Orbie recipients based on leadership and management effectiveness; business value created by technology innovation; and engagement in industry and community endeavors.

About Inspire Leadership Network

Inspire Leadership Network is the preeminent peer leadership network of C-suite executives. With nearly 2,000 members across more than 40 local chapters, Inspire members serve public and private businesses, government, education, healthcare, and non-profit institutions. Inspire exists to help leaders thrive in today’s most challenging executive roles.

— Jimmy Hart (Jimmy.Hart@mtsu.edu)