Muma Digital Business Awards

Laurie Douglas, Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Chief Digital Officer at Publix Super Markets, has led enterprise technology and digital strategy for two decades. Her role spans application and infrastructure engineering, digital solutions and omnichannel operations, emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and technology operations.

Under her leadership, the technology team delivers high-quality solutions to enable Publix’s strategic objectives.  She and her team enhance customer experiences and simplify associate work experiences, while generating a positive ROI.  With the accelerated pace of change, she has also guided Publix through multiple technology shifts to leverage modern capabilities to position the enterprise for sustainable long-term growth.

Before Publix, she held senior technology roles at FedEx Kinko’s and The Home Depot, giving her broad perspective on technology in large retail environments.

Douglas has been recognized by peers for executive-level impact, including receipt of the Florida ORBIE Leadership Award. Douglas earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Duke University and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Tony DiBenedetto is a technology executive, entrepreneur and philanthropist with over 35 years of experience driving business innovation and high-impact growth. He is the Executive Chair and former CEO of global software company Appspace and serves as an active board member for technology companies including A-LIGN and Trofeo.

Tony is the founder and chair of Think Big for Kids, a national nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by preparing students to excel in the workforce. Founded in 2016, Think Big has grown into a fully operational organization with an ambitious goal of serving 10,000 students by the end of 2025.

Tony earned partnership at Arthur Andersen before founding tech company Tribridge in 1998. As CEO, he led the company through multiple acquisitions and integrations, achieving a compounded annual revenue growth rate of over 40 percent. Under his leadership, Tribridge grew into a $175 million organization with more than 850 team members. In 2017, he led the acquisition of Tribridge and its subsidiary, Concerto Cloud Services, by DXC Technology Company.

In 2020, Tony partnered with private equity to acquire Appspace and later became CEO, leading its transformation into a global workplace communications platform serving half of the Fortune 500. He retired as CEO in 2025 and continues as Executive Chair after growing the company from $17 million to $125 million in revenue.

Tony has received numerous leadership honors, including induction into the Horatio Alger Association, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^®, the Florida State University College of Business Hall of Fame, and multiple regional business and philanthropy awards. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management Information Systems from Florida State University.

Gil Gonzalez leads the dedicated MCS team of approximately 400 professionals at the forefront of delivering pioneering technology solutions. MCS has expanded operations across the United States establishing numerous branches and project offices with clientele to include commercial, military, federal, state, and local government entities. MCS is one of the fastest-growing privately owned technology firms in the Tampa Bay area.

With over 30 years of experience, Gonzalez holds Low-Voltage and Unlimited Electrical

Contractor licenses and is a Registered Communication Distribution Designer (RCDD).

He proudly earned his MBA with honors from University of South Florida, specializing in Management of Information Systems and Economics along with a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the same institution. He was also recognized as the Small Business “Person of the Year" for Florida in 2005 by the U.S. Small Business Administration highlighting his contributions to the business community.

In addition, he also is an active member of the Executive Advisory Council for the University of South Florida Muma College of Business, the Volunteer Trustee for USF Foundation, serves on the Truist Bank Advisory Board, and recently appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the Electrical Contractors Licensing Board.