Influential Mainframers 2025

Meet the 2025 Influential Mainframers

Mainframe technology continues to evolve because of the dedicated professionals, educators, mentors, and innovators who drive it forward. This April, we’re celebrating them.

Welcome to the second annual Influential Mainframers campaign. Last year, we launched this initiative to recognize the people who inspire, lead, and support the global mainframe community—and the response was incredible. You shared powerful stories, and together, we reached thousands of readers.

Now, we’re back with a new class of 2025 honorees.

Starting today and all month long, we’re shining a spotlight on the individuals who are making waves—whether they’re advancing technology, mentoring new talent, sharing knowledge, championing modernization, or quietly keeping mission-critical systems running every day.

These are the people shaping the future of mainframe. They come from all backgrounds and experience levels, but they all have one thing in common: they’re making a difference.

Check back daily as we reveal a new honoree. Read their stories, celebrate their impact, and be inspired.

Follow @Planet Mainframe and follow #pmfinfluentialmainframers to congratulate this year’s honorees, share your favorite stories, and spread the word.

Top Influential Mainframers

Magie Hall

Magie Hall Ph.D.

University of Nebraska Omaha
Read our interview and Profile on Magie

Vikas Sinha Ph.D.

Broadcom Mainframe Software
Read our interview and Profile on Vikas

Influential Mainframers of 2025

Anthony Anter

Anthony (Tony) Anter

Technology Director and DevOps Evangelist,
BMC Software

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Ron Argent

CEO, TES Enterprise Solutions and Cognition Foundry

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Stuart Ashby

Stuart Ashby

Practice Lead,
PopUp Mainframe

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Niall Ashley, Vertali

Niall Ashley

Security Consultant,
Vertali

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John Baker

John Baker

Principal Consultant, z Performance,
IBM

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Venkat Balabhadrapatruni

Venkat Balabhadrapatruni

Distinguished Engineer, Broadcom Inc.

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Derek Britton


Derek Britton

CMO,
PopUp Mainframe

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PJ Catalano

PJ Catalano

IBM Z & LinuxONE Test Architect and Master Inventor,
IBM

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Gareth Copplestone-Jones

Head of Infrastructure Services,

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Richelle Anne Craw

Mainframe Software Engineer,
Beta Systems Software

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Bruno Binotti Camargo

Bruno Binotti Camargo

Mainframe Infrastructure Analyst, Kyndryl

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Tim Full

Technical Services Manager, Software Diversified Services (SDS)

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Javier Estrada Benavides

Senior Lead, Systems Administration, Kyndryl

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Marcus Davage

Marcus Davage

Lead Product Developer, BMC Software

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Geoffrey Decker

Geoffrey Decker

Instructor, Northern Illinois University, Dept. of Computer Science

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Gaiten Dupre

Chief Product & Technical Officer, Syspertec

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Peter Enrico

President, Enterprise Performance Strategies, Inc.

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Ángel Gómez Ruiz

CEO, Bsecure – The Mainframe & Security Company

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Uwe Graf

Lead Modernization Architect, EasiRun Europa GmbH

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Ezriel Gross

Principal Solutions Advisor, Rocket Software

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Abdul Hafiz

Abdul Hafiz Abdul Karim

Principal Engineer – Mainframe,
Emirates Airline

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Manuel Gómez Burriel

IMS/DB2 DBA & Systems Administrator

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Donna Hudi

Chief Marketing Officer & Head of Business Development, Phoenix Software International

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Michael Jordan

Distinguished Engineer, Broadcom

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Armin Kramer

Armin Kramer

Senior Mainframe Architect and Mainframe Evangelist,
CROZ DACH

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Andrew McCandless

Founder, War Games1983 Ltd.

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Toine Michielse

Leader, Client Services Consulting, Broadcom Inc.

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Danny Naicker

Retired, First National Bank of South Africa

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Senthil Nathan

Head of Product, IBM Z DevX; Founder, MainframerIndia

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Sujit Neb

Senior Automation Engineer, BMC Software

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Uday Prasad

Director and Co-Founder,
ZedInfotech Inc.

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Dusty Rivers

Dusty Rivers

Senior Director, US Systems Z, Mainline Information Systems

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Dr. Cameron Seay

Cameron Seay Ph.D.

Adjunct Instructor, East Carolina University Founder and Dean,
EMMA

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Subhasish Sarkar

Subhasish Sarkar

Senior Product Manager/Owner,
BMC Software

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Darren Surch

Darren Surch

CEO,
Interskill Learning

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Amit Sharma

Founder,
Tech Sharmit

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Kannan Subbarayan

Vice President, Ensono

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Lauren Valenti

Lauren Valenti

Director, Mainframe Education, Customer Engagement, Vitality and Mainframe Expert Program,
Broadcom Software

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Joe Winchester

Joe Winchester

Senior Technical Staff Manager and Master Inventor,
IBM

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Leanne Wilson

Leanne Wilson

Technical Delivery Manager / Security Consultant,
Vertali

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