As the engineering landscape continues to evolve with unprecedented velocity, the Design World LEAP Awards (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) remain the industry’s gold standard for identifying and honoring the most groundbreaking technologies and products. As we approach the announcement of our 2026 winners, we take a moment to shine the spotlight on the backbone of the competition: our distinguished, independent panel of experts.
Selecting the winners from a record-breaking pool of applicants is a task of immense gravity. The LEAP Awards distinguish themselves by ensuring that the selection process is free from corporate influence; WTWH Media plays no role in the final vote. Instead, we entrust the decision-making to a curated group of 10 industry leaders—a mix of OEM design engineers, academics, and systems architects who possess the hands-on experience necessary to evaluate true engineering innovation.
The Pillars of Engineering: A Distinguished Panel
The 2026 panel represents a cross-section of global expertise, ranging from aerospace wiring systems to fluid power education and advanced digital manufacturing.
Sam John, President, Innovative Products Inc.
Sam John brings a wealth of practical manufacturing knowledge to the table. As the leader of Innovative Products, Inc., he oversees the design of custom automatic machinery, solving complex engineering challenges for clients like Medtronic and the U.S. Air Force. With a multi-disciplinary background spanning Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, and an MBA, John’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that engineering excellence is a bridge between humble beginnings and world-changing innovation.
Michael E. Joyner C.I.D.+, CEO, Town Line Technologies LLC
With a career spanning nearly five decades, Mike Joyner is a titan of image sensor design. From his early work on medical X-ray cameras in the 1980s to his pivotal role in developing CMOS technology for the motion picture and machine vision industries, Joyner’s influence is etched into dozens of patents. His participation ensures that the LEAP Awards maintain a rigorous focus on technical viability and long-term design utility.
Dr. Medhat Khalil, Director of Professional Education, Milwaukee School of Engineering
Dr. Khalil is synonymous with fluid power education. A recipient of the "Otto Maha Pioneers in Fluid Power" award, he brings over 20 years of academic and industrial research experience to the panel. His work with the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) and his global teaching experience provide the LEAP Awards with a deep, authoritative perspective on mechanical and hydraulic systems.
Amar Maniar, Associate Principal, Arup
As a Professional Engineer and IEEE Senior Member, Amar Maniar specializes in the complex interplay of electrical infrastructure and sustainability. From solar integration to life-safety fire detection systems, Maniar’s ability to synthesize complicated requirements into elegant, streamlined designs is a vital asset for evaluating the sustainability and safety standards of our entrants.
Michael Traskos, President, Lectromec
Michael Traskos is a leading voice in aerospace electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS). With a background in computer science and physics, his work on electrified aircraft and fleet life assessment is critical to the future of aviation. His presence on the panel ensures that high-voltage and aerospace-specific entries are vetted with the highest degree of technical scrutiny.
Dr. Daniel Zammit, Senior Systems Engineer, University of Malta
Dr. Zammit represents the next generation of academic rigor. With a Ph.D. in DC Microgrids, his expertise in power electronics and grid-connected inverters provides the panel with essential insights into the energy-efficiency trends that are currently transforming the industrial power sector.
Lionel Grealou, Engineering Instructor (Retired)
Lionel Grealou’s focus on PLM-based digitalization and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) brings a modern, software-centric lens to the jury. In an era where digital transformation is as important as physical hardware, Grealou’s guidance ensures that we honor products that are not only well-built but also well-integrated into the modern digital workflow.
Ernie Parker, Hennepin Technical College
A veteran of the International Fluid Power Society for over 60 years, Ernie Parker brings a historical perspective that is unmatched. His deep understanding of the fundamentals of fluid power allows him to distinguish between superficial design changes and genuine, lasting technological advancements.
Dr. Plamen Doynov, Research Professor, University of Missouri, KC
Dr. Doynov serves as a bridge between high-level wireless research and practical industry application. As the CTO for EMP Shield Inc., his expertise in electromagnetic protection and wireless systems provides a necessary security-focused layer to our judging criteria.
Toby Schnaars, CEO, Too Tall Toby
Representing the CAD/CAM software community, Toby Schnaars is a legend in the SOLIDWORKS world. With over 10,000 tech support cases handled and thousands of engineers trained, he brings an unparalleled understanding of how software design tools influence the final manufactured output.
Chronology of the 2026 Evaluation Cycle
The 2026 LEAP Awards cycle began with a rigorous call for entries, inviting manufacturers across the globe to submit their latest advancements in categories ranging from mechanical and electrical components to connectivity and software.
- Submission Phase: Open for four months, the program saw a surge in entries focused on industrial automation and green energy.
- Independent Review: Once submissions closed, the panel received anonymized data packets. Each judge evaluated entries based on innovation, technical complexity, and market impact.
- Deliberation: The panel engaged in a series of virtual roundtables, debating the merits of each finalist. This phase ensures that every winning product has been stress-tested by experts who work in those very fields every day.
- Final Selection: Winners were finalized based on a consensus-driven scoring model, ensuring objectivity.
Supporting Data: The Impact of Peer Review
The LEAP Awards are unique in that they eschew the "pay-to-play" model common in other industry awards. Our data shows that products recognized by the LEAP panel see a measurable increase in market visibility and adoption. This is largely because the judging panel acts as a filter for quality. When an engineer sees a LEAP Award seal, they know it represents a solution that has been validated by peers who understand the pain points of the shop floor, the laboratory, and the field.
Implications for the Industry
The 2026 submissions demonstrate a clear industry shift toward electrification, predictive maintenance, and sustainable manufacturing. Our judges have noted that the "winning" entries this year are not necessarily those that are the most flashy, but those that solve the most pressing logistical and energy-related problems facing OEMs today.
By involving academics and practitioners like Dr. Khalil and Mike Joyner, the program bridges the gap between theoretical research and market-ready products. This creates a cycle of improvement: inventors see what the judges value—efficiency, durability, and innovation—and they iterate their next designs accordingly.
Official Stance on Credibility
The independence of our judges is the foundation of the LEAP Awards. Because these professionals have no stake in the commercial success of the entrants, their feedback is brutally honest and technically sound. As we prepare to unveil the 2026 winners, we want to remind our readers that these awards are not just a marketing accolade; they are a peer-reviewed certification of quality.
We thank our 10 judges for the hundreds of hours they have dedicated to this process. Their commitment ensures that the LEAP Awards continue to define what it means to lead in engineering achievement. Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of the 2026 winners—the future of engineering is, quite literally, in the best hands.
