CTL is excited to share that we were recently awarded the 2025 LTC Alliance Award at the Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC) in Springfield, Illinois. The award was presented on Wednesday, November 13, 2025, during the opening keynote by Mindy Fiscus, Director of Government Affairs and Purchasing Cooperative at the Learning Technology Center of Illinois (LTC).

Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Mike Mahanay, accepted the award on behalf of CTL on the main stage. Later that day, he joined a panel discussion alongside the recipients of LTC’s Vision Award and Collaboration Award to talk about how trusted partnerships and thoughtful use of technology can drive better outcomes for PK-12 students.

About the LTC Alliance Award

The LTC Alliance Award recognizes private sector partners who uniquely support and impact school districts through collaborations, partnerships, and alignment with student learning. The award is connected to the Illinois Learning Technology Purchase Program (ILTPP), LTC’s statewide technology purchasing cooperative.

CTL is an ILTPP Vendor Partner, and this year, only one vendor was selected for the Alliance Award.

CTL received multiple nominations from Illinois school districts for this recognition. One nominating district shared:

“CTL is a true ally to our students, teachers, and IT staff. They stuck with us through procurement and repair, even offering buyback for depreciated devices. They’re always friendly, affordable, and honest. Excited to continue working with them in the future.”

How CTL Serves PK-12 Districts

During the awards panel, Mindy invited Mike to explain CTL’s service to K-12. Mike began by directly addressing CTL's core identity, positioning the company as a strategic technology partner for school tech leaders stretched thin, not just another vendor. He explained that this partnership philosophy is why CTL leans so heavily into service, offering side-by-side support and solutions designed to streamline a school's entire EdTech lifecycle rather than focusing on single transactions.

He went on to describe CTL’s status as a certified B Corporation and how that shapes strategy and operations:

“As a B Corporation, we care about growing a healthy business, but we also have a charter to focus on environmental and social responsibility. That factors into all of our decisions.”

Mike emphasized that CTL’s go-to-market strategy is built around collaboration, not one-time transactions:

“Our approach is not transactional. We do not just sell products. We partner with school districts and educators to address the things they care about most.”

He connected that philosophy directly to the daily realities of district technology leaders, especially those operating with constrained budgets and lean IT teams.

Supporting Lifecycle Management and Sustainability

On the panel, Mike highlighted lifecycle management as a concrete example of how CTL turns its values into services that help districts stretch their budgets and meet sustainability goals.

He acknowledged that device lifecycles can vary widely depending on age group and use case, but there is always a need to manage end of life in a responsible way. CTL works with schools to:

• Buy used computers from Schools at the end of their service life

• Refurbish those devices

• Return value to districts that can be applied toward future purchases

• Place refurbished units into the hands of schools or students who can benefit from second-life devices

Mike linked this to both environmental responsibility and fiscal stewardship, aligning with CTL’s B Corp commitments and district needs for sustainable, cost-effective device management.

Advancing Digital Equity

Digital equity was another theme that surfaced in Mike’s remarks. He explained that CTL builds some Chromebook models with embedded cellular modems, allowing students without consistent broadband at home to still connect and complete their work.

By designing hardware options that address connectivity gaps, CTL aims to support districts that are actively working to close the digital divide for their students.

Student Repair Programs and CTE Opportunities

Mike also spoke about CTL’s work as a Google-certified Chromebook repair OEM  and how that translates into hands-on opportunities for students in Illinois and beyond.

CTL works with districts to train and enable student tech teams to perform Chromebook repairs on campus with a free “Chromebook Care” Course Curriculum and certification . When implemented effectively, this type of program can:

• Help IT departments maintain large fleets more efficiently

• Provide real-world technical experience for students

• Support Career and Technical Education pathways

Mike acknowledged that these programs require thoughtful implementation to work well, and when they do, they create a powerful blend of operational support and student skill building.

Focusing on Partnerships, Not Just Procurement

Across his comments on the panel, Mike returned to a consistent theme: CTL’s role is to collaborate with districts to solve problems, not simply to transact.

“As a partner, our job is to sit next to districts and help them think through lifecycle, sustainability, digital equity, and day-to-day operations. We measure success by the long-term relationships we build and the problems we help solve, not just by the number of devices shipped.”

Recognizing the Work in Illinois

Mike also made it clear that this award reflects the work of many people across CTL, with special acknowledgement for the team members supporting Illinois districts.

“This award is a reflection of the trust Illinois districts have placed in CTL, and it also reflects the great work that Maureen Cooney has done as CTL’s Solution Consultant for the State of Illinois. Maureen has spent years listening to districts, helping them navigate options, and standing by them through deployments, repairs, and refresh cycles. Her work has been central to building the partnerships that made this recognition possible.”

Looking Ahead

The LTC Alliance Award underscores the importance of vendor relationships that extend beyond pricing and procurement mechanics. For CTL, it reinforces a long-term strategy centered on environmental and social responsibility, digital equity, and practical, hands-on support for schools that are operating in complex conditions.

As CTL continues to work with ILTPP, LTC, and districts across Illinois, the focus will remain on collaboration, transparency, and solutions that help schools maximize the impact of every device, every deployment, and every student opportunity.