Dr. Colin Parris, a US Black Engineer magazine Distinguished Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Alumni Award honoree, was one of 13 executives named as leaders and winners of the 2022 BIG Innovation Awards. This annual business awards program recognizes organizations, products, and people that are bringing new ideas to life in innovative ways.

“Innovation is driving the global economy across virtually all industries,” said Maria Jimenez, chief nominations officer of the Business Intelligence Group. “We are honored to award these executives, companies, and products the BIG Innovation award this year. Each has made tremendous strides at improving the lives of their community.”

On LinkedIn, Parris, who is senior vice president and chief technology officer of GE Digital, thanked the Business Intelligence Group for the recognition and acknowledged a congratulatory post by GE Digital. “Great innovation happens within teams,” he wrote. “Thank you to all my GE Digital colleagues for their constant pursuit of innovation.”

Parris earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Howard University in Washington D.C. before heading west for a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, a second master’s degree in the science of management from Stanford, and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from University of California, Berkeley.

During Black History Month 2021, Parris shared his career story with AfroTech to help businesses evolve with digital transformation using technologies like digital twins. “I hope that the next generation will see the potential to lead in the future by pursuing a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math),” he wrote on LinkedIn.