CMIT Solutions Celebrates 30 Years and Honors Top Franchise Owners at Connect Live! 2026
Annual managed IT services franchise convention in Indianapolis brought the CMIT community together for business education, peer collaboration, networking and an awards celebration at Union Station
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CMIT Solutions, a national provider of managed IT services and cybersecurity solutions to small and midsize businesses, celebrated 30 years in business at CMIT Connect Live! 2026. The annual convention brought franchise owners, technicians, service professionals, the corporate team, and technology partners together in Indianapolis for professional development, business collaboration, networking and recognition of outstanding performance across the CMIT Solutions franchise network.
The multi-day event reflected the relationships that support CMIT's nationwide network. Programming included educational sessions, meetings of CMIT's high-performing Mastermind Groups, informative breakout sessions, the Partners and Solutions Pavilion, networking events, a Women's Happy Hour and a Million Dollar Dinner celebrating franchise owners whose businesses have reached at least $1 million in annual revenue.
CMIT also welcomed and toasted franchise owners who joined the organization after October 2025 during a Welcome Party at the NCAA Hall of Champions.
Key technology sponsors supporting CMIT Connect Live! 2026 included Kaseya, ConnectWise, Pax8, ThreatCaptain, and Cytracom.
CMIT Solutions also welcomed the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA), which had an onsite presence and conducted video interviews highlighting members of the CMIT community and broader technology industry.
Franchise of the Year Caps 2026 Awards Celebration
The CMIT Connect Live! Awards Banquet was held at Indianapolis Union Station, where the historic architecture and elegant setting provided the backdrop for CMIT's 30-year celebration. The evening combined franchise and support team recognition with live music and a performance by the event band.
The evening's highest honor, the Franchise of the Year Award, was presented to Dayal Bhagat of CMIT Solutions serving the Roanoke, Virginia and North Charlotte and Statesville, North Carolina regions. The award recognizes sustained business growth, service delivery, participation in the CMIT system, alignment with the organization's core values and contributions to the broader franchise community.
Franchise of the Year nominees: Dayal Bhagat; Matt McCracken; Mike Minkler; Tom Shirey; Cheryl Nelan and Evan Stein; and Marty and Leslie Wood.
Other CMIT Solutions Award Winners and Nominees
Award |
Winner(s) |
Nominees |
Marketing Excellence |
Elizabeth and John Boyette |
Elizabeth and John Boyette; Adam Lopez; Yusuf Ujjainwala; and Andrew Vaughan |
Sales Excellence |
Leslie Chiorazzi |
Leslie Chiorazzi; Larry Kerrigan; Mike Minkler; Cheryl Nelan and Evan Stein; Chris Parmigiani; Tom Shirey; and Jeff Steele |
Mastermind Group of the Year |
The Afterburners |
Afterburners; Alliance; Disruptors; Forerunners; Pacesetters; and Gamechangers |
FAC Member of the Year |
Arvind Hariharan |
John Boyette, Southeast; Leslie Chiorazzi, Northeast; Arvind Hariharan, Pacific; Matt McCracken, Central; and Zen Piotrowski, Midwest |
Technician of the Year |
Phil Ellis |
Phil Ellis; Andrew Golden; Bob Hanson; Austin Kupper; Don Kupper; and Mark Stephens |
Service Delivery Manager of the Year |
Jenn Fortunato |
Josh Carroll; Jenn Fortunato; Bea Stockler; and Anna Zwicky-Kasemodel |
Rookie of the Year |
Adam Lopez and Mike McCain |
Mitul Chothani; Elina and Scott Greenstein; Adam Lopez; Mike McCain; Laurel Mueller; and Damian Sanderson |
President's Award |
Cheryl Nelan and Evan Stein |
No nominee slate was announced |
Partner Awards Presented at CMIT Connect Live
CMIT Solutions technology partners Kaseya, Pax8 and ConnectWise presented additional awards during the banquet.
Kaseya Partner of the Year: Matt McCracken
Kaseya Breakout Franchise of the Year: Elina and Scott Greenstein
Pax8 Partner of the Year: Milton Perez, Greg Humble, and Mark Boedecker
ConnectWise Franchise of the Year: Scott Graflund (Pam Elliott accepted the award on Scott's behalf)
ConnectWise Rising Star Award: Adam Lopez
A 30-Year Milestone Built on Community
A video featuring CMIT Solutions founder Georgia Jones was played during the celebration. In the video, Jones shared touching reflections on CMIT's 30 years in business and the people and relationships that have helped shape the organization throughout its history.
"Celebrating 30 years is a tremendous milestone for CMIT Solutions, but what I'm most proud of is the community we've built and the franchise owners who continue to move this organization forward," said Roger Lewis, CEO of CMIT Solutions. "Connect Live gave us the opportunity to celebrate where we've been, recognize the people driving our success today, and look ahead to the next chapter of growth and innovation."
About CMIT Solutions
CMIT Solutions provides managed IT services and cybersecurity solutions to small and midsize businesses through a network of locally owned offices backed by national resources. CMIT helps organizations manage technology, strengthen security, support employees, protect data and plan for growth through trusted local relationships and a broad network of technology expertise.
SOURCE CMIT Solutions
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