WHO WE ARE
Founded Optimum in 1984
Prior to founding Optimum Technology, Josh was a member of the National Systems Development Practice at KPMG (formerly Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Company) and held positions with General Electric and Mobil Gas (now ExxonMobil).
A recognized business and community leader, Josh is a founding member of the Asian Indian American Business Group (AIABG) and former Executive Director of the Asian Indian Alliance (AIA). In 2023, he was named Ohio Asian Technology Leader of the Year by the Asian American Commerce Group (AACG) and was honored by both the City of Columbus and the State of Ohio for his achievements.
Josh holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Louisville, an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Baroda, India, and is a graduate of the General Electric Corporate Management Training Program.
Josh Davda
President, CEO & Founder
Joined Optimum in 2005
Cynthia Hunt is Optimum’s Consulting Services Practice Director; she works with State and local CIO's and State of Ohio agency senior leadership with an Health and Human Services focus. Cynthia is currently the Deputy Engagement Executive for the robust enterprise implementation of ServiceNow at the State of Ohio, including ITSM, CSM and ITBM.
Formerly an SVP with CGI/American Management Systems (AMS), as the Deputy General Manager for State and Local Government, Cynthia had direct responsibility for managing all dimensions of half of AMS’s significant state and local portfolio ($200M) including business development, client relationship management, and engagement delivery. This role included large-scale capture strategy, management and proposal development (up to $100M).
Cynthia Hunt holds a B.A. in Architectural History and Mathematics from Smith College and a M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Cynthia is active in her community and often works with human services non-profits in strategic engagements, as well as supporting the Columbus Landmarks Foundation in development efforts.
Cynthia Hunt
Consulting Services Practice Director, Executive-level Management Consultant
Joined Optimum in 1993
Greg is actively involved in business and public safety leadership, serving on the Columbus Chamber of Commerce Membership Engagement Committee, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce All Chambers Council, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Law Enforcement Information Technology (LEIT) Section's 50th Anniversary Working Group. He also serves as Chairman of the Minority Development Financing Advisory Board for the Ohio Department of Development, an appointment by Governor Mike DeWine.
Recognized nationally for his expertise in technology, data, and public safety, Greg has twice been invited by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to contribute to discussions on law enforcement data transparency, helping shape recommendations provided to the President of the United States.
Greg Davda, Sr.
Chief Operations Officer, Solutions Practice Director
Joined Optimum in 2011
Nicole is a dynamic and seasoned leader at the intersection of AI, digital transformation, and responsible innovation. With over a decade of experience in product development, delivery, and technical leadership, she has held pivotal roles including Chief Technology Officer, Head of Product, and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. Her expertise spans user experience, systems thinking, software development, and scalable solutions design across diverse industries.
As the Principal AI Consultant and AI Practice Lead at Optimum Technology, she advises government agencies on ethical, governance-aligned AI systems in public safety, leveraging frameworks such as NIST AI RMF and ISO 42001.
A nationally recognized voice in STEM and AI ethics, Nicole contributes to IEEE working groups (7019, 7999) and the IJIS Institute and holds advanced certifications in AI Ethics. Her work spans cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, Azure), AI risk analysis, system implementation, and policy advocacy—always centering transparency, equity, and accountability.
Nicole’s impact extends beyond the workplace. She serves on the Advisory Board for Ashland University’s Strategic AI Certificate Program, is a member of the Responsible A.I. Institute, and mentors students at Howard University and the University of Texas-Austin through the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation.
Nicole holds an M.S. in Creativity and Innovation from Drexel University and a B.A. from the University of Toledo. A U.S. Army and Ohio Army National Guard veteran, she brings a mission-driven, ethics-first perspective to building AI that works for—and with—the communities it serves.
Nicole Jackson
Chief Technology Officer, AI Practice Director
Contact Us
NPPgov Contract #: PS20340
Ohio STS #: 534555 & 534545
DUNS #: 151983814
Corporate Status: MBE
NAICS Codes:
511210 – Software Publishers
518210 – Data Processing, Hosting & Related Services
541511 – Custom Computer Programming Services
541512 – Computer System Design Services
541519 – Other Computer Related Services
541618 – Other Management Consulting Services
611420 – Computer Training