Orion Innovation Strengthens Its Board
On November 18, 2025, Orion Innovation made headlines with the announcement of two prominent additions to its Board of Directors: Melanie Kalmar and Randy Kern. This strategic move signifies Orion's commitment to accelerating its technological leadership, especially in the realms of data, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.
The New Board Members
Melanie Kalmar brings nearly four decades of experience from her tenure at Dow, where she excelled as the Corporate Vice President, Chief Information Officer (CIO), and Digital Director. During her time at Dow, she led several significant global digital transformation initiatives that spanned IT strategy, cybersecurity, and the integration of artificial intelligence and generative AI within business processes. Her remarkable achievements earned her the prestigious ORBIE Award for National CIO of the Year and a spot on Forbes' CIO Next list, which recognizes 50 top tech leaders. Furthermore, Kalmar is a passionate advocate for women in technology, STEM careers, and community development initiatives.
Randy Kern, on the other hand, brings over 30 years of valuable technology leadership from notable companies such as Marqeta, Salesforce, and Microsoft. Throughout his career, Kern has successfully guided vast engineering, cloud, and infrastructure organizations, fostering advancements in scalability, architecture, and business modernization. His collaborative approach and deep technical expertise make him a formidable asset for Orion.
Strategic Importance
Both Kalmar and Kern will provide critical strategic direction as Orion aims to reinforce its standing in data innovation, AI, and cloud solutions. Carlo Padovano, President and Partner at One Equity Partners, noted that these appointments significantly enhance the Board's extensive industry expertise, stating, "The combined experience of Randy and Melanie will elevate the strategic direction of Orion as the company continues to innovate and provide tangible value to clients globally."
Brian Bronson, CEO of Orion Innovation, expressed his excitement in welcoming these leaders aboard, emphasizing that their rich backgrounds and practical insights will help the company remain distinct and innovative in the competitive landscape. "Melanie and Randy contribute an exceptional blend of vision and hands-on experience, which is essential for strengthening our client partnerships and accelerating growth," he remarked.
Kalmar herself conveyed her honor and enthusiasm about joining the board during such a transformative phase for the company. She stated, "Orion's focus on technological transformation and its agility in working with clients position it as a formidable player in this data-driven, AI-centered world." Meanwhile, Kern added, "Orion is redefining how businesses leverage technology for innovation and scalability. I am thrilled to be part of this journey, enhancing their engineering and data capabilities to drive the next generation of digital solutions."
About Orion Innovation
Orion Innovation has established itself as a leading provider of cutting-edge solutions in data, AI, cloud, digital experience, and cybersecurity. The company is dedicated to empowering organizations to innovate, scale, and embrace future technologies. With deep expertise in software engineering and an understanding of the unique challenges across sectors, Orion develops data-driven products and solutions designed to enhance customer experiences, accelerate growth, and deliver long-term value. "Visualize the future. Create what matters," is more than just a slogan; it's their commitment to transforming businesses.
For more information about Orion Innovation, visit
www.orioninc.com.
About One Equity Partners
One Equity Partners (OEP) is a private equity firm that specializes in the middle market, focusing on the industrial, healthcare, and technology sectors across North America and Europe. The firm aims to build market-leading companies by identifying and executing transformative mergers and acquisitions. OEP is a trusted partner with a differentiated investment process, a broad senior team, and a proven track record in generating long-term value for its partners. Established in 2001, OEP has completed over 400 transactions globally. The firm, which separated from JP Morgan in 2015, operates offices in New York, Chicago, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam. Visit
www.oneequity.com for more details.