2017 Women of Color | FALL - VOL. 16, NO. 2

$6.95

2017

TECHNOLOGIST OF THE YEAR

Denise Gray President LG Chem Power Inc.

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TECHNOLOGY ALL-STARS, RISING STARS, AND TECH MAVENS FALL 2017 | www.womenofcolor.net

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AWARDWINNING WOMEN IN STEM SHARE THEIR STEPS TO PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS

FOR TODAY’S CAREER WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

CONTENTS VOLUME 16 NUMBER 2 FALL 2017

FEATURES

28|

COVER STORY

Denise Gray CEO/President at LG Chem Power, Inc.

2017 Technologist of the Year

DEPARTMENTS 8| People and Events

Women on the Move

12| One on One | Passing the Torch Conversation with the 2016 Technologist of the Year

16| Education Corporate Promotion of Education: Inspiring Future STEM Leaders Through Education

18| First Steps Internship Goals: 6 Things You Need to Know

22| Corporate Life Performance Planning: How to Reduce Stress and Get the Right Things Done

24| Career Voices Angela Thompkins Adds Value to Diversity and Inclusion

33| W omen of Color STEM Award Winners

70| Book Review

Women in Tech by Tarah Wheeler Van Vlack

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Special Recognition Honorees

75| C AREER OUTLOOK:

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Technology All-Stars

 Industry Overview

 Job Horizon

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Technology Rising Stars

 People to Know

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Auto Industry

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EDITORIAL PAGE

Women of Color STEM Conference Women of Color magazine’s Women of Color (WOC) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Conference was founded in 1995, in a year when the world was focused on achieving greater equality and opportunities for women.

Over the past two decades, conference success has come from earning a reputation as a trusted partner.

We work with employers and organizations that not only have an eye on enhancing inclusion in STEM but are invested in making possible recognition awards like these to engage the diverse communities they serve.

The most recent edition of Women of Color magazine’s Most Admired Employers list, which is compiled from a survey of magazine readers and WOC STEM Conference attendees, shows that the employers leading in diversity in America and around the world also nominate their employees for recognition through WOC STEM Awards.

Each year, our WOC Selection Committee reviews resumes that reflect what one WOC magazine writer has called “meticulously-crafted, extremely honed visions of academic and professional determination.”

To that, I add consistent performance and sustained delivery.

In this magazine, as in others, you will learn who the winners of the 2017 WOC STEM Awards are. You will discover how their peers at WOC magazine’s Most Admired Employers reciprocate their philosophies.

You will also find out why they think there are so few women in STEM and what they are doing to change that. In addition, you will read about how they are helping to prepare professionals in the STEM pipeline for the challenges ahead, get tips on tools that students and professionals can utilize for support, and learn their thoughts regarding the state of women in STEM on the road to 2020.

Over the last two decades, we have worked with big and small organizations looking to recognize employee excellence, increase engagement with diverse talent, and promote an inclusive culture. Women of Color hopes to continue forging new and old partnerships for decades to come as we contribute to the success of next-generation scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians.

Tyrone D. Taborn Publisher and Editorial Director

omen In Technology & Business

Career Communications Group’s

For Today’s Career Women in Business and Technology EXECUTIVE OFFICE Tyrone D. Taborn, CEO and Chief Content Officer Jean Hamilton, President and CFO Alex Venetta, Associate Publisher, Manager of Partner Services Eric Price, Vice President, Recruitment and Professional Training EDITORIAL AND CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Rayondon Kennedy, Managing Editor Lango Deen, Technology Editor Dr. Michael Spencer, Dean, School of Engineering, Morgan State University Dr. Gary Harris, Professor, Engineering Department, Howard University Dr. Victor McCrary, Member National Science Board Dr. Kamal Nayan Agarwal, Vice-Chairman, Modern Technology and Management Institute, Howard University Jem Pagán, Contributing Editor Michael Fletcher, Contributing Editor Gale Horton Gay, Contributing Editor Garland L. Thompson, Contributing Editor Roger Witherspoon, Contributing Editor

Vice Admiral Walter J. Davis, USN (Ret) National Chair, BEYA Military Alumni Oliver “Bo” Leslie, Retired Program Manager, Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions, Boeing Monica E. Emerson, Women of Color STEM Conference National Chair Matt Bowman, CCG Military Program Manager Stars and Stripes Committee Executive Director/Chief of Staff for VADM Walt Davis, USN (Ret.) Angela Wheeler, Manager, Foundation for Educational Development, Inc. Ty Taborn, Corporate Development Hayward Henderson, Executive Advisor to the CEO SALES AND MARKETING Gwendolyn Bethea, Vice President, Corporate Development Reginald Stewart, Sr. Business Development Manager Sheri Hewson, Account Executive Devin Oten, Senior Account Manager

GRAPHIC DESIGN Sherley Taliaferro, Art Director Bryan Davis, Marketing and Content Director Joe Weaver, Global Design Interactive

JOBMATCH AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Ashley Turner, University & Professional Development Relationship Manager Courtney Taborn, Talent Management Specialist Rod Carter, Recruitment Specialist, College Relations Sheila Richburg, College Coordinator Hawi Sorsu, Administrative Support

CORPORATE AND ALUMNI RELATIONS Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, CCG Alumni Committee Chair and President Dr. Eugene DeLoatch, Chairman, BEYA Alumni Group

CONFERENCE AND EVENTS Ana Bertrand, Conference Coordinator Toni Robinson, 360 MMG Rutherford & Associates

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INTERNS Kathleen Walters, UMBC Markele Cullins, UMBC Nicolette Riggin, UMBC Rachaee DeVore, UMBC Yogesh Sharma, UMBC ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE Career Communications Group, Inc. 729 E. Pratt Street, Suite 504, Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: (410) 244-7101 / Fax: (410) 752-1837 Women of Color (ISSN 1937-0555) is a publication for today’s career women in business and technology. Women of Color magazine invites letters to the editor about any topics important to our readership. Article queries and letters should be sent to: CCG – Women of Color magazine, Editorial Department, 729 E. Pratt St., Suite 504, Baltimore, MD 21202.

No manuscript will be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. Women of Color magazine cannot be responsible for unsolicited art or editorial material. Subscriptions are $13/year.

Please write to: CCG – Women of Color magazine, Subscriptions, 729 E. Pratt St., Suite 504, Baltimore, MD 21202. Copyright © 2017 by Career Communications Group Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

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PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Women on the Move

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The five women selected in June for the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class reported for duty in August. They will do two years of training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Upon the completion of their training, they will be assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office while they await a flight assignment. Here are their stories.

At the time of her selection, JESSICA WATKINS was a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at the California Institute of Technology, where she collaborated on the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity. For her Ph.D. research, Watkins studied large landslides on both Mars and Earth through orbital data analysis. Watkins earned a bachelor’s in geological and environmental sciences at Stanford University. During her undergraduate internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Watkins conducted research supporting the Phoenix Mars Lander mission.

She also served as chief geologist for NASA Spaceward Bound Crew 86 at the Mars Desert Research Station in 2009. As a grad student, Watkins participated in several internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory before earning a doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles. In college, she was a member of the USA Rugby Women’s Sevens National Team.

During her postdoc, she served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Caltech women’s basketball team.

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As an undergraduate researcher—and later master’s student—in marine sciences at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, ZENA CARDMAN studied microbial ecology in hydrothermal vents, the Arctic, and oil spill-affected sediments of the Gulf of Mexico.

Prior to starting her master’s program, Cardman sailed with the Sea Education Association as Assistant Engineer aboard a 135’ tall ship.

At the time of her selection in June 2017, Cardman was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at the Pennsylvania State University.

Her research has focused on microorganisms in subsurface environments, ranging from caves to deep sea sediments. Cardman’s field experience includes multiple Antarctic expeditions, work aboard research vessels as both scientist and crew, and NASA analog missions in British Columbia, Idaho, and Hawaii. Her recreational interests include canoeing, caving, raising backyard chickens, and glider flying.

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LORAL O’HARA was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in Sugar Land, Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Kansas in 2005 and a Master of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue University in 2009. As a student, she participated in NASA’s KC-135 Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program, the NASA Academy at the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and the internship program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

At the time of her selection in June 2017, O’Hara was a research engineer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. O’Hara is a private pilot and certified EMT and wilderness First Responder. Her recreational interests include surfing, skiing, and caving.

KAYLA BARRON graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering in 2010. She was commissioned as a Navy officer the same year and immediately attended graduate school. A Gates Scholar, Barron earned a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Cambridge in 2011.

Following graduate school, Barron attended the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power and submarine officer training. As a Submarine Warfare Officer, Barron was a member of the first class of women commissioned into the submarine community. At the time of her selection, Barron was serving as the Flag Aide to the Superintendent of the Naval Academy. Born in Pocatello, Idaho, Barron considers Richland, Washington, to be her hometown.

JASMIN MOGHBELI earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering with information technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. She is also a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and has accumulated more than 1,600 hours of flight time and 150 combat missions. Moghbeli was born in Bad Nauheim, Germany, but considers Baldwin, New York, her hometown.

At the time of her selection in June 2017, Moghbeli was testing H-1 helicopters and serving as the quality assurance and avionics officer for Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 of the U.S. Marine Corps in Yuma, Arizona.

Luvleen Sidhu Is CEO Connection’s 2017 Mid-Market Young Leader BankMobile, a division of Customers Bank and America’s fastest growing mobile-first bank, selected LUVLEEN SIDHU, co-founder, president, and chief strategy officer, as CEO Connection’s 2017 Mid-Market Young Leader. CEO Connection is the only membership organization exclusively for mid-market CEOs. “This recognition means a tremendous amount to me, and I am honored to have been selected by CEO Connection as its 2017 Young Leader,” stated Sidhu.

“BankMobile was launched in 2015 with the mission to financially empower millennials and the underbanked. We have been able to have a positive impact on the lives of nearly two million people so far, and I look forward to impacting many more as we continue to grow.” Under Sidhu’s management, BankMobile has grown to be among the top 25 banks in the country in terms of number of consumer checking accounts.

By Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

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ONE ON ONE

Dr. Aleksandra Boskovic

Research Director, Optics, Surfaces, and Integration Technologies Corning Incorporated

Passing the Torch

2016

Technologist of the Year

Charting

New Directions

in Optics

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Aleksandra Boskovic, Ph.D., doesn’t have a crystal ball to see into the future, but she knows that optics will play a critical role in developments and innovations going forward.

“Optics is always going to be part of our lives,” said Boskovic, a research director at Corning in areas related to optics, surfaces, thin films, and integration technologies.

Boskovic has been tasked with leading her company’s major redesign of its optics capabilities.

“It’s a very exciting direction,” said Boskovic of the three-year effort to chart a new path for Corning.

“It’s really a great leadership challenge.”

Corning, a 165-year-old company that’s a world leader in materials science, focuses its expertise in specialty glass, ceramics, and optical physics.

Based in Corning, NY, the company has an estimated 45,000 employees.

Charting a new direction is part studying the

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past, part anticipating the future, and part making “gut” judgments, said Boskovic. She explained that learning from the past is fundamental; however, it is merely one data point.

Dr. Boskovic said she doesn’t think young people are aware of potential careers in optical communications.

“It’s hard to find good candidates,” she said.

“The future is never an exact repetition of the past,” she said. “You have to take risks.”

In taking risks, one should monitor progress or development constantly to be aware of the first signs that it may not be panning out and then make course corrections and/or acknowledge that it isn’t working.

“It’s important you keep your fingers on the pulse of what’s happening. You want to be the first to notice if it’s not happening to do something about it,” she said.

Boskovic said one can be involved in a project that fails but still be viewed positively as a great leader due to how the project was managed.

Although she’s unable to pinpoint the exact number of people involved in the redesign, she said it involves hundreds of Corning workers and partners.

“Optics in general are more and more important in our lives,” said Boskovic, giving examples of augmented reality, virtual reality, and remote surgeries as specialties in which optics are key. She noted that optics are vital in telephone conversations, Internet exploration, and the quality of images on computer and television screens.

“These all have optics at their heart,” she said.

Boskovic’s leadership is multi-faceted. She holds numerous patents, including five that enable telecommunication systems around the world to keep up with bandwidth growth at the speed of light. She has been an advisor of diversity efforts at Corning and has been a presenter at several diversity events, including one at Stanford University. She was Women of Color’s 2016 Technologist of the Year.

Boskovic received her bachelor’s, master’s, and

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doctorate degrees in physics and optical physics from universities in Brazil and the United Kingdom. She also holds an executive MBA from Dartmouth College.

As a senior leader at Corning, Boskovic sets strategic direction, delivers new product concepts, and provides fundamental understanding to a wide breadth of Corning’s businesses, including Corning Optical Communications, Corning Display Technologies, and Corning Specialty Materials. A significant part of her early work at Corning was aimed at developing the requirements for the next generation of fibers and optical components and building their value proposition in collaboration with the commercial teams. Later, she held several technical leadership positions, including leading the optics modeling organization in research, the fiber development organization, and Corning’s European Technology Center.

Optical communications is a vast field offering opportunities ranging from fiber optics to quantum communications. Boskovic said she doesn’t think young people are aware of potential careers in optical communications.

“It’s hard to find good candidates,” she said.

She cited the 2001 downturn in the telecommunications industry, when numerous companies folded, as having taken a toll on the industry. At that time, there were more individuals with degrees seeking to enter the field than jobs available. Boskovic said people became discouraged about seeking employment in the optics field and pursued careers in other fields. The interest level hasn’t increased as much as she thinks it should have.

Boskovic also said that the number of women working in the optics field is disappointingly low.

By Gale Horton Gay ghorton@ccgmag.com

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EDUCATION

Corporate Promotion of Education: Inspiring Future STEM Leaders Through Education

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The greatest value in STEM-related industries comes from their ability to create opportunities for future leaders through education. That value is true when it comes to two courageous women who have pioneered corporate education in STEM. Alexandra Liggins, co-founder of the South Bend Code School, and Marilé Colon Robles, Education Outreach Coordinator with NASA’s GLOBE Clouds & S’COOL Lead Science Systems and Applications, Inc., are strong examples of the importance of the continued promotion of STEM education through corporate environments. Although each of them has a unique story that has brought them to where they are now, they both understand the value of continued educational opportunities in order to ensure that the future of STEM has strong and diverse leaders.

ALEXANDRA LIGGINS Co-Founder South Bend Code School

Alexandra Liggins is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. However, her college education at Notre Dame University is what brought her to the Midwest. Alexandra knew she wanted to be in the business of helping people at a very young age. With her first real internship at the age of eight, she began helping at a doctor’s office, which fueled her desire to someday become a medical practitioner herself.

While embarking on the pre-med path at Notre Dame, it was a course that shed light on the lack of humanity that was beginning to plague the medical industry that made Alex change her mind.

“The entire reason I wanted to become a doctor was because I wanted to help people,” says Liggins. “I couldn’t stand the fact of working in an environment that looked at patients as just numbers. I knew that I needed to do something else. I took a step back and thought about all of the things I had done up to that

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point that really helped people and decided to focus on tutoring other students.”

While tutoring high school students, Alex realized a common problem: A lot of these students had no idea what to do after finishing high school. Many were worried about finding fulfilling careers without any kind of college degree. She began to do some research and found that a major industry that had plenty of job opportunities and did not require a college degree was web development and coding. This former pre-med student began to teach herself how to code before moving on to help other students learn how to code.

With the help of some colleagues, Alex opened up the South Bend Code School, a program that offers courses and workshops to kids aged 7 to 18 in how to do everything from building websites to designing games. The participants learn three main coding languages—HTML, CSS, and Java—and are instructed by college students and other tech professionals. The South Bend Code School functions as an after-school program, teaching the students two times a week for about two hours as well as a summer program that lasts four days a week for about three hours each.

Since the school first opened two years ago, it has had about 200 students come through their formal programs. That does not include the adults and other students who participate in the coding events that they circulate as well.

“We have so many success stories. One student in particular just completed one year with her internship. At just sixteen years old, she is developing courseware for major universities before she has even applied for college.”

The South Bend Code School is excited to be expanding this fall as they open two new programs in Fort Wayne and Goshen, Indiana. Alexandra continues to encourage students to try new things.

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“If you are passionate and have a goal in mind, just try it! Do not ever put yourself in a box. Push forward, and do not be afraid to try something new. There are so many fields within STEM. Expose yourself to as much as you can, and keep trying!”

MARILÉ COLÓN ROBLES Education Outreach Coordinator, GLOBE Cloud & S’COOL Lead Science Systems and Applications, Inc. NASA Langley Research Center

Born in Rio Piedra, Puerto Rico, Marilé Colón Robles experienced a diverse and unique education. At a young age, Marilé leaned on the afterschool programs that she was able to participate in. It was there that she discovered she had a passion for music, sports, and academics. Attending a music conservatory at the tender age of eight, she pursued her passion for the flute and musical performance. That is not where her ambition stopped either. She was also very involved in school activities, like the school council, and enjoyed learning about social justice issues and literature. In college, Marilé depended on music to get her through school. It was a unique program, Minority Access to Research Careers, that would have her embark on a whole new journey.

“It was a two-year program, but they allowed me to do it for one year. I studied in a laboratory under Dr. Olga Mayor, where we focused on different types of aerosols. We did a lot of comparing and contrasting, and I learned about the different facets of aerosols, like weather, climate, clouds, and more.”

Shortly thereafter, Marilé received an opportunity to work at the NASA Langley Research Center while she was completing her Ph.D. One of her first assigned missions was helping Hispanics in NASA. She went on to lead a program that would teach people about the different jobs that are available in NASA and to inspire students—particularly Hispanic students—to learn more about future careers with NASA. In partnership with Texas State University, NASA began the STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative.

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It was in this position that Marilé began to sow the seeds of the future of STEM. “The program consisted of ten specialists, one at each of NASA’s main centers. My job was to engage teachers both nationally and internationally, telling them stories about the opportunities and achievements of NASA. These were stories like Hidden Figures. I was able to share how I was walking the same halls that Katherine Johnson walked just a few decades ago. One of my areas of concentration was Lenoir in North Carolina, one of the poorest counties in the state. I focused on building a cohort of teachers and worked on inspiring them.”

Marilé has focused on teaching them how they can really make a difference. The program works to bring subgroups from these different areas to NASA facilities or to bring NASA engineers to the schools to do presentations.

“These teachers are tired and have very little access to resources. I tackle this job by bringing them my all.

They know that I am not just there to talk to them but to listen as well. I work hand in hand with them and model what I want them to do in the classrooms. It’s about developing relationships and creating a space and opportunity for them to feel important.”

Marilé says that when they are able to meet NASA employees and see how passionate they are about their jobs, it instills a new sense of passion into the teachers that is then passed on to the students. In her new role with NASA’s GLOBE Cloud program, Marilé now connects with teachers all around the world. She continues to inspire and connect in an effort to create the future leaders of STEM and of NASA. “STEM is in everything. It’s in how you see the world.” Marilé continues, “Whether you are interested in fashion or the weather, there is some science involved. Through STEM, you will get to open doors you never thought you could open. As technology continues to improve, new opportunities will continue to arise. It’s important to always be in a learning state of mind, no matter what position you are in.”

By Jessica Rafaeil editors@ccgmag.com

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FIRST STEPS

Internship Goals: 6 Things You Need to Know

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An internship can be a major pivot point in a person’s life. Here are seven things you need to remember before, during, and after your internship opportunity.

TAKE THE RIGHT COURSES

I tell students that the opportunities I had were a result of having a good educational background.

Education is what allows you to stand out.

– Ellen Ochoa

field of study the history, politics, and philosophy of the industry you are entering? Continue to expand your academic knowledge so you have the breadth of knowledge you need to be a cultural fit. At high society functions in Manhattan, you need to be able to speak about the arts. In Shanghai, you should understand the history and cultural sensitivities of the Chinese people.

And in Singapore, you need to know the historical reasons why that island nation has become so wealthy. This must be done by means of a broad education.

KNOW YOUR DREAMS The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.

– Oprah Winfrey

During your internship, you will be learning new things and meeting many new people. Be sure to take time during the experience to carefully reflect if what you are doing is your dream. It is easy to get caught up in a job because the industry or company is prestigious, your parents want this future for you, or your friends are doing the same thing so “Why not?” Stop.

You need to know what your dreams are. That way you can chart the pathway you need to take to achieve them. During and after your internship, decide if what you did is what you want to do. Always remember your dreams, and you will always discover your pathway.

CHANGE IS HAPPENING I wouldn’t be anywhere without the Internet.

– Issa Rae

The better educated you are, the better prepared you will be for opportunities. Be sure to educate yourself beyond your field of study.

You have to know your academic area of study and how it fits into the bigger structure of the world, but you also need to understand how you fit into the larger framework of the world. Do you understand philosophy? Do you speak a second or third language? Do you understand beyond your academic

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Change is happening all around you. In your lifetime, every industry and company will face a seismic market shift. Now think during your internship about how this industry or company may be changed in the future. Are they preparing for this future or not? This is your opportunity to find new opportunities or even create your own disruption in the field. YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and Instagram created celebrities when others were still waiting to be chosen by a studio executive. You have the ability to create new opportunities for yourself as well as others. During your internship, look for where change may happen.

chose to intern. In excellence, you will be able to gain valuable lifelong skills. You will also be noticed, and you never know who may be noticing. It may very well be your fellow interns, organization employees, and people you will meet during your internship that become the lifechanging contacts for reaching your dream. Always be excellent.

Most of the great directors I’ve worked with–De Palma, Spike Lee– like rehearsals. Rehearsals make a huge difference.

– John Leguizamo

The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.

– B. B. King

We need to internalize this idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent.

– Barack Obama

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BE PREPARED

LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

BE EXCELLENT

You have prepared yourself to the best of your ability. Now, during your internship, seek excellence.

Work hard, and regardless of the circumstance you are placed in, recall your dream. Your dreams will set your pathways, push you to excellence, and remind you why you

the knowledge you gain is yours forever.

No matter how challenging an experience may be, always remember that what you will learn can never be taken away from you.

Try to learn and absorb as much knowledge and as many skills as possible. Things you learn during your experience can help you in other areas of your future personal and professional life. Make it a goal to learn one new thing per day, and keep a diary listing what you have learned. Try to perfect that knowledge during your internship. Don’t just stop learning after your internship is over, but try to build on the knowledge you have acquired.

Learn as much as you can because

Be prepared. Be prepared. Be prepared. Those who are not prepared are bound to fail. Don’t allow yourself to be one of those people. Research any organization that is considering interning. At the minimum, you need to know when it was founded, the mission, the leadership, and the current news about the organization. Think of possible interview questions you may be asked and how you would respond. Make an action plan of what objectives you will fulfill during your internship. Acceptance of an internship does not stop the preparation process. Continue onward by learning your responsibilities and performing them dutifully. Always be on time. And be aware that all that you are doing will be preparing you in one way or another for your future.

By Kenneth Barnes editors@ccgmag.com

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CORPORATE LIFE

Performance Planning: How to Reduce Stress and Get the Right Things Done

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Stress management is crucial as more and more people are reporting increased stress levels.

According to the American Psychological Association, American Institute of Stress, in 2014 over 70% of people reported regularly experiencing physical and psychological symptoms caused by stress, and job pressure was the number one cause.

What causes stress and how best to handle it differs from individual to individual. Therefore, it is important for everyone to recognize their personal stressors and come up with healthy reactions to stress. “It’s not stress that kills us; it’s our reaction to it,” states Dr. Jennifer Farmer, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Northrop Grumman, quoting Hans Selye.

The key to an effective stress management program is “acknowledg[ing] what stresses you out...[and] what works for you,” says Rosalie Thomas, IBM, Director of Inclusion and Diversity. Using herself as an example, Thomas states, “Meditation does not work for me. I have a problem sitting still. It is a de-stressor that gets me more stressed.” Thomas finds being in motion helps her deal with stress, so she walks or gardens.

Music and exercise are what help Tess Apovi, Program Manager, Northrop Grumman, to manage stress. “I start every day with a certain type of music…and I schedule the gym like I schedule a meeting. I know it’s important for me to start the day off right.” For Kakoli Kim, Chief Scientist, Booz Allen Hamilton, mediation is effective. After “five minutes of noticing my breathing…I notice myself reacting differently, better, more productive to stressors in my life.”

Another way to handle stress is to talk to someone you trust. “I have a good friend I can say and share anything with…we all need that,” says Thomas. Apovi agrees: “Sometimes hearing people’s perspective can be a de-stressor.” This is especially helpful as your situation in life changes. “Whether it’s giving you a tip or helping you have a different perspective, it can be

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encouraging and help you manage stress.” Thomas continues, “Find individuals who have already gone through those phases, and ask them what they found easy, what they found hard, and what opportunities they drew from those.”

“Say no in a nice way,” says Lee, as part of stress management. However, you need to know when to say no. The Time Management Matrix is a useful tool for determining your priorities. The matrix has four categories. First is urgent and important. These are crises and deadlines (a report that’s due at the end of the day). Second is not urgent but important. These are things you plan to do as soon as possible (planning your vacation). Third is urgent but not important (meetings and interruptions). And fourth is not urgent and not important. These are thing you can drop or postpone (watching your favorite show).

Lee continues, “Develop your reputation for delivering.

People will know when you say no it’s not because you don’t want to do it…but when you say yes, you will knock it out of the park.” Thomas added, “Things change, so be flexible enough to adjust,” and be careful of “people who try to make their emergencies yours. Let them know you can’t do it now. They will either find someone else to do it” or work on your timetable.

It is very important that you take time away from work. Farmer says, “Plan for yourself in advance to reboot.” Thomas agrees: “Life goes on with or without you. Intellectually we know this, but emotionally we don’t think it does.” Thomas shares that she suffered a stroke that her doctors attributed to the stress she was under at the time. “Take the time you need when you need it. If you don’t do it, life has a way of doing it for you. Don’t get to the point where your health is compromised.”

By Denise Stephens editors@ccgmag.com

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CAREER VOICES

To Believe We Belong

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Angela Thompkins Adds Value to Diversity and Inclusion In today’s top corporate and executive offices, cultural intelligence is no longer “something to consider.”

Rather, it is essential for building, establishing, and expanding a strong foundation of multifaceted experiences and solutions. No one knows this better than Angela Thompkins, Director of Talent Acquisition, Diversity and Inclusion at Consumers Energy. Her role has introduced resources and support for her colleagues and employees that have opened up a world of celebration and appreciation for cultural values that stand front and center in daily operations. We had an opportunity to speak to Ms. Thompkins about her work and personal mission to create an air of acceptance at Consumers Energy.

Who is Angela Thompkins as a professional?

I am a lawyer by trade. I worked as a prosecutor for several years until I realized the criminal aspect wasn’t what I really wanted to do for the rest of my life. But I did enjoy solving problems and helping people sort through their issues, so my legal skillset paved a pathway to a career in Human Resources.

I left prosecuting and went to work for Chrysler, where I worked in labor relations in Human Resources and helped with contract disputes, grievances, and arbitrations. I did that for a while and then pursued another role as a lobbyist.

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During the economic downturn in 2008–2009, I took a buyout from Chrysler, left the automotive industry, and returned to practicing law. I ran the Fair Housing Center for Legal Aid of Detroit, where I helped residents that were facing discrimination as it related to housing, getting a mortgage, or renting an apartment.

I did federal housing litigation for a couple of years and then worked on criminal justice issues for the State of Michigan to help reduce sentencing for nonviolent crimes. This was important to me because there is a disparate impact with minorities getting higher sentences when they have nonviolent crimes. I left there and went to U.S. Foods, and I eventually left there and landed at Consumers Energy, where I am now and have been for four years. I’ve had a variety of roles in that four-year time period. Over the last two years, I’ve been doing diversity and inclusion along with staffing, in which I ensure that we have a diverse set of hires. I also work to create a culture that is one of inclusion so that when we bring that diverse set of hires into the company, the culture welcomes them, makes them feel comfortable, and naturally encourages new hires to stay with the company.

Are there skills that run consistently through each of those experiences and professions that bring you to where you are now?

With my legal background and training, I would say I’ve been able to lean on skills of persuasion that I have learned. That skill is critical when you’re in front of a jury or judge. It’s all about a set of facts and how you persuade someone to believe the story that you’re trying to tell based on the set of data or facts that you have. Through that, I’ve been able to do what is difficult for most people, which is learn how to remove any type of emotion I may have connected to the data or facts and simply tell a story that is data driven.

Data in itself is very compelling, and I have been very successful in using it to create change. In the role that I have now, there have been a number of challenging questions posed: Why are diversity and inclusion important? Why do we need to have a diverse workforce? If we are bringing people in, why do we need to change the culture? We’ve been successful as a company for over 130 years, so why do we need to change? Really being able to use data to justify my role and the company’s responsibility to

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its employees has been extremely important.

The other thing that has always been important to me is being motivated and being led by the right thing to do in any situation. If I’m not in a position to influence, inspire, and encourage, it’s not the right thing to do, and it’s not the right job for me. I’ve been motivated by those three things: being in a position to influence decisions, policy, and culture; inspiring others to do and be their best; and encouraging people, particularly minorities, to continue on despite difficult situations.

I always try to encourage them to see that there is more for them in corporate environments. I have seen retention rates suffer because minority employees feel they have to leave because they don’t see anybody that looks like them. I feel like it’s my job to encourage them not to give in and leave but to stick it out and work to be the first person in that leadership role. It can happen! That’s how I have led myself through my career.

With your position at Consumers Energy, what have been some of the successes and challenges in the message that you bring and the reception that people typically have to it?

The message for me is that we’re all in this together.

It is truly one of inclusiveness for everyone. We should care about our veterans and our LGBTQ individuals or individuals with disabilities. I’ve always taken it very personally if I ever heard a bad joke or heard something inappropriate toward another group. My thought was, if you are disparaging toward that group, and you’re bold enough to say it in front of my face, what are you saying about me to others? I wasn’t only looking out for the best interests of females or minorities; it has always been about making sure that all employees, regardless of who they are and where they come from, how they love and what they believe, have a great work experience if they work for us. I see it as a personal commitment to create that inclusive environment for everyone.

One of the biggest challenges has been getting to see this as an “everyone” issue, not just “their” issue.

It’s getting everyone to see and believe that they are a part of diversity, and that in that, they also have a personal and professional responsibility to promote inclusion. So there are still some companies that be-

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lieve diversity is just black and white, male and female.

Today diversity encompasses education, experiences, and beliefs. Those differences shape and mold how we think and how we approach and solve problems. If people can broaden their perspectives on what diversity is, I think that would help us culturally to ensure that we are all doing our part to create an inclusive environment.

Do you feel like you’ve had to work harder to present that message as an African-American female?

Absolutely. People look at me and make the assumption that I only want to make it better for AfricanAmerican people or for women. That’s the first thing that I address when I get in front of a group to talk about diversity and inclusion: It’s about so much more than me. It’s more than what I look like. It’s about each and every one of them. Diversity is about what you see when you look in a mirror. I do think that people make assumptions that I’m only there to ensure more women and minorities get hired, and that’s not the case at all. Since I’ve been in the role, we’ve had three employer resource groups: one for women, one for minorities, and one for women engineers. We’ve since grown our employer resource groups from three to seven. Now we have one for individuals with disabilities, one for veterans, a multigenerational employer resource group, and one for people who identify as LGBT. We didn’t have any of those before. I hope people see that it’s not just about people that look like me. It really is about creating a safe space for every single one of us.

This goes back to what the data from employee engagement surveys showed us, not some great idea I had. Those groups were born out of looking at data and assessing what people were saying. For example, our company initially had three percent of its employees identified as veterans. Once we started the veterans employer resource group, we saw the veteran self-identification increase from three percent to 11 percent. Being a veteran became a point of pride, so people weren’t afraid to say they were a veteran. I heard someone say they thought being labeled a veteran would immediately label them as having PTSD or impose other negative assumptions. I’m not a veteran, but that was extremely hurtful to me when

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CAREER VOICES

I heard it. That’s not who we are or who we want to be as a company. Something is culturally wrong if people feel they cannot be open about or express that they are veterans. Now being a veteran has become a point of pride. The ironic thing is that some of these same people have been in the company for years. Nothing has changed other than the fact that as a company we stood up and said, “Being you is okay.”

Seeing as how you are an advocate for so many, what role have mentors played in your life and throughout your career?

My mentors taught me the value of self-confidence.

I’ve gone to a lot of my mentors throughout my career to say, “I need your help; I need some advice,” and they wouldn’t give me answers. They would listen and tell me, “You have the answer. You know what to do.

Trust your gut. Trust your instinct. You won’t do the wrong thing.” They gave me the confidence to take risks and to do things that may not have been the most comfortable or popular decisions. That helped me truly believe in myself. Now I know if something doesn’t go right, there’s always a way to fix it. I don’t fear mistakes. I don’t fear things going wrong. That puts me in the position to learn from that experience.

By learning from the experience, I grow personally. So I’m not really afraid to make mistakes. I’ve learned to be a risk taker.

Another thing one of my mentors taught me is to ask questions and build relationships. Whether you need them or not, building relationships is critical to learn and understand what’s important to other people.

Sometimes asking colleagues or stakeholders for their input and thoughts on a project, even if you don’t need it, makes them feel valued and essential to success.

That piece of building relationships has been so important for me because it’s helped me build, develop, and earn trust with people. Once you have trust in a relationship, people are more likely to take risks on their position because of the foundation of a good relationship. It’s a powerful skill to have.

Indeed. Speaking of being powerful, the theme of this year’s WOC conference is “Celebrating the Power Within.” What do you consider to be your power within, and how do you celebrate that?

My power is positivity and gratitude. I believe that what you give out, you get back. I am always grateful for my experiences, for the people in my life, and for

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each opportunity that I’m given. Each night before I go to bed, I write in a gratitude journal. No matter how difficult the day has been, no matter how awful I may have felt, I find a way to give thanks to the universe for things that were positive in that day, even if that’s only one or two things. I’ve learned that I always have to look at things positively and with appreciation. That makes me a happier person. When I’m happy, I can give more happiness to others. Being thankful for the good and bad is a driving force for me. When I’m happy, I can give that to other people.

How do think other women can discover and celebrate their own power?

Celebrating their own power is about self-confidence, self-worth, knowing and understanding their value, not letting anyone define that for them but defining that for themselves, and then truly living that and not being afraid to be who they are. Celebrating that power is being bold enough to really be you. Oftentimes, especially in corporate America, minority females are trying to fit in and assimilate. There is nothing better than being who you are. No one else is made like you. No one thinks or has the same experiences as you do. The people you’re trying to be like have their own journey and story, just like you. If you’re bold enough to believe in yourself, others will too.

Amazing. So what words of inspiration or wisdom would you have for students or young ladies who are looking to follow in your footsteps?

I would tell them to follow their passions and do something they enjoy. Don’t ever chase a paycheck; if you do something you love and enjoy, you will always give your best. If you’re always at your best, the accolades and money will follow.

I would also encourage young women to make sure they give back to others coming up behind them. You haven’t arrived simply because you reached your personal goals. When you look back, there was somebody that believed in you, someone that took a chance on you, somebody that helped pull you up. We all have a responsibility, once we feel like we have arrived, to reach back and pull others up along with us.

By Terrence Dove editors@ccgmag.com

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2017 Women of Color Award Winners : WAVES of CHANGE = Opportunity

WOMEN OF COLOR

STEM Conference

2017 Women of Color Award Winners : WAVES of CHANGE = Opportunity

By Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

2017 Technologist of the Year

Denise Gray C 2017 Women of Color Award Winners : WAVES of CHANGE = Opportunity

Call it bias, but it came as a surprise to some when LG Chem Power Inc. announced that Denise Gray would be succeeding Prabhakar Patil, who served as CEO for 10 years.

For industry insiders, it was simply the right decision to

WOC22select Gray to head up LG Chem Power Inc., the North

American subsidiary of LG Chem Ltd., one of the world’s

2017 Women ofbattery Color Award Winners : WAVES of CHANGE = Opportunity largest WAVES oflithium-ion CHANGE =manufacturers.

Before joining LG Chem Power, Gray built an impressive track record in vehicle electrification, including directing Global Battery Systems Engineering at General Motors (GM).

At GM, Gray and her team, working closely with LG Chem, developed and launched the lithium-ion battery system that powered the original Chevrolet Volt. The Volt uses LG Chem battery cells produced at the company’s plant in Holland, Michigan.

Gray also had served as vice president of electrification power train engineering at AVL List, GmbH, a global leader of engineering services, simulation, and testing technology for powertrains.

Building Blocks of Success “My work builds on itself,” Gray said in a phone interview with Women of Color magazine this summer.

Denise Gray

CEO/President at LG Chem Power, Inc.

“What I do now is approximately what I’ve done for the past

WOC22fifteen years. Electric powertrain technology has moved very aggressively, and we have had to move as fast as we can,” WAVES of CHANGE = she noted.

Since Gray took over as chief executive of LG Chem Power, its battery systems have been selected to power an impressive array of cutting-edge vehicles, including the

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Chevrolet Bolt and Chrysler Pacifica hybrid-electric vehicles.

Gray was no stranger to mastering numerous disciplines.

“We believe our technical strengths [and] engineering and manufacturing expertise position us as a leading battery and control system provider for electric vehicles today and in the future,” Gray said.

A graduate of Kettering University in Flint, Mich., she was named to the university’s Co-op Hall of Fame in 2009. Her coop experience at Kettering exposed her to a five-year rotation in electrical test labs, vehicle assembly plants, prototype manufacturing shops, and software design, all of which helped her gain valuable experience and expertise.

“Our experience with entire battery packs, including cell design and manufacturing capability, and our expertise in vehicle integration, makes us the ideal battery supplier for the Pacifica Hybrid as well as others,” she said.

Technical Strengths, Engineering, and Manufacturing Expertise Gray encourages young people interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to learn the skills needed to develop battery and control systems because demand will continue to increase.

“The battery is a multi-disciplinary product, and putting it together takes specialists from different types of engineering,” she said.

Gray’s teams have included electrical engineers, chemical engineers, mechanical engineers, and people skilled in electronics hardware, software, and controls design.

“Industry is always going to need people who can innovate,” she said. “The technology we have today wasn’t here when our parents were young. We Americans love to be the first at doing something. Innovation is a part of our core.”

Battery Czar At GM, Gray had global responsibility and oversight of GM’s hybrid battery development efforts. She also served as director of transmission controls and director of engine and transmission software and control systems integration.

But it took some years of gaining experience in a number of positions before earning that level of responsibility.

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That training helped her develop a vision for what she wanted to accomplish at GM. “I wanted to be the best entry-level engineer that I could be and, from there, continue to contribute great ideas and innovation as a senior engineer,” she said.

Leadership After years on the job, Gray found that the manufacturing industry needed managers who were good communicators and people oriented in order to bring a product to market.

“It took some courage,” she admitted, “but I found that I’d progressed toward leadership. It was a natural evolution. I wasn’t fighting it.”

Gray’s rise from graduate to her first managerial position was spread over more than a decade. Working on the Volt program from 2006–2010 exposed her to decision making at the highest level.

“The Volt program was a collaboration of suppliers and OEMs. We were creating capital as we were building a product that didn’t have a market. It was new; it was different,” she explained.

Gray and her husband, a retired GM executive, have been married for 30 years. The couple has two sons, 27 and 23.

Both trained in engineering and program management.

“Faith in God, family, and work is all we’ve ever had,” she said.

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WOMEN OF COLOR STEM AWARD WINNERS 2017

I

t’s been 15 years since Women of Color magazine noted the increasingly important role women are playing in developing and controlling the technology America depends on for its economic growth and security. A convergence of events had made the task of defending America difficult: an economic downturn coupled with a challenge to national security. Despite these setbacks, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that engineering disciplines would experience growth, as would the need for qualified scientists. Below are outstanding women who, by connecting their technical skills to present-day and future challenges, are keeping the United States at the top of the global economy.

TECHNOLOGIST OF THE YEAR

Denise Gray

Chief Executive Officer LG Chem

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Jessica Byrd

EEO Manager U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District

CORPORATE PROMOTION OF EDUCATION

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION – INDUSTRY

Co-founder South Bend Code School

Manager, Glass & Surface Science, Corning Pharmaceutical Technologies Corning Incorporated

Alexandra Liggins

Marilé Colón Robles

NASA STEM EPDC Specialist at NASA Langley Research Center

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY CAREER ACHIEVEMENT – GOVERNMENT

Stacey E. Brown

Deputy Chief South Atlantic Division U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT – INDUSTRY

Linda Molo

Leona Anderson

Senior Human Resources Generalist The Boeing Company

ENTREPRENEUR LEADERSHIP

Nicole Priester

President & CEO Encore Solutions, Inc.

AVP Network Services AT&T

K–12 PROMOTION OF EDUCATION

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD

STEM Program Director American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Keera A. Riddick

System Responsible – Electrical/ Electronics Components Systems FCA US LLC

COLLEGE-LEVEL PROMOTION OF EDUCATION

Alisha White Madison

Sr. Manager of Business Process Analysis Northrop Grumman Corporation – Aerospace Systems

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COMMUNITY SERVICE – GOVERNMENT

Yin Chen

Research Aerospace Engineer U.S. Army, Picatinny Arsenal

Dr. Iris Wagstaff

MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP – GOVERNMENT

Mylan To

Project Manager Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division

MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP – INDUSTRY

Maribel Wilson

Senior Director of Engineering Honeywell

Cheryl Biagini

Sinue Gomez

Jaya Tripathi

Principal Scientist for Analytics The MITRE Corporation

Glenn Research Center Technical and Quality Audit Lead NASA Glenn Research Center

Ze Etta Elaine Murphy, MSE

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT – INDUSTRY

Aruna Anand

Head of Continental Engineering Services, North America Continental, North America

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Rosalyn Kent, M.S.

Graduate Student Research Assistant University of Michigan

TECHNICAL INNOVATION – GOVERNMENT

Reygan Freeney

Science Officer U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center

Deputy Director for Resource Mgmt / IT Lead NASA Langley Research Center

Process Analyst The Boeing Company

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Senior Manager, IT Service Management Enterprise Architecture The Boeing Company

Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety The Boeing Company

Akilah Miles

Danielle Griffin

Joaneé Johnson

Lisa Valle

Jianhua Chen

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT – GOVERNMENT

NEW MEDIA/IT LEADERSHIP

Crystal Miles

Electric Construction Manager II Consumers Energy

Ursula English

Mechanical Engineer Staff Lockheed Martin

Manager, Mission Assurance Northrop Grumman Corporation

Pamela Bolden

Technical VP, IBM Cloud Division, North America IBM Corporation

René H. Bostic

WAVES of CHANGE= Debbie Garrett Cook

AVP – Project Program Mgmt/Merger Integration AT&T

IT Enterprise Architect Dominion Energy

TECHNICAL INNOVATION – INDUSTRY

Monica Brooks

Melissa Bolden

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

Senior Manager, Manufacturing Engineering Department Manager – Electrical Supplier Engineering Raytheon Company

COMMUNITY SERVICE – INDUSTRY

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Project Manager Turner Construction Company

Senior Supplier Engineer II Raytheon Company

Rita Mas Ramírez Manufacturing Engineer Boston Scientific

Bernie I. Thomson, PMP Deputy Chief of Staff U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Melissa Wong

Acting Section Supervisor The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Tia Wright

Lead Application Developer United Parcel Service

Jie Xue

Vice President Cisco Systems Inc.

Shuo Chen

Raina Yancey

Lead Software Systems Engineer The MITRE Corporation

Principal Technical Support Engineer, Global Support Oracle Corporation

VISIONARY AWARD

Chungjing (Jane) Yi

Linda Hilbert, P.E.

Executive Director Environmental & Lab Service Consumers Energy

Staff Engineer The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company S.A.

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DAVE BARCLAY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AWARD

Jessica Byrd

Equal Employment Opportunity Manager U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District

WHAT SHE DOES: As the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Manager for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Charleston District, Jessica Byrd manages every element of the EEO Program. Her primary goal is to ensure all employees and applicants for employment in Charleston District receive equal employment opportunities regardless of race, sex, national origin, color, age, religion, genetic information, or disability.

WHY SHE WON: Because her efforts go a long way in making the Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, a place where everyone wants to work. She has promoted the hiring of college students with disabilities under the workforce recruitment program for federal agencies. Her implementation of the program in Charleston District has increased the percentage of employees with disabilities in the organization.

Jessica has also established a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, and South Carolina State University to foster community outreach in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and awareness of the Army Corps of Engineers’ mission and career opportunities. She also manages the Special Emphasis Programs which, includes the Hispanic Employment Program, Federal Women’s Program, Black Employment Program, and Disability Employment Program. Under the Special Emphasis Programs, she has hosted events focusing on career development, leadership, and cultural diversity to positively influence careers and diversity education for all employees.

HOW SHE GOT TO THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, CHARLESTON DISTRICT: She’s an Army civilian and a 20-year veteran. In the Army, she served from executive assistant to Army recruiter to equal opportunity adviser working in various commands and civilian communities.

HOW SHE GIVES BACK: Since 2008, she has helped support a partnership with the University of South Carolina to expose more than 100 high school students to a wetland presentation and field exercise, encouraging continued education and inspiring interest in STEM careers.

She has also facilitated workshops on resume writing and interviewing skills.

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CAREER ACHIEVEMENT – GOVERNMENT

Stacey E. Brown

Deputy Chief, South Atlantic Division Regional Integration Team, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

WHAT SHE DOES: Stacey Brown oversees an $822 million program for the South Atlantic Division region’s Civil Works Directorate. She supervises an interdisciplinary water resources team, which is responsible for civil works related to the development of navigation, hurricane protection, erosion control, multipurpose reservoirs, local flood protection, environmental restoration, water supply, water quality, and watershed ecosystem management improvements.

HOW SHE GOT TO THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS: “My mother worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was the first African American in the personnel office in the Baltimore District. She later went on to be Chief of Recruitment and Placement. After graduating from high school, my mother had me take the Civil Service test so I could get a summer job. I took the test and scored so highly that I was referred for a position as a GS-2 clerk-typist in the Office of the Post Commander at Fort George G. Meade. Although I told them during the interview that I would be going to Tufts University in the fall to study civil engineering, they offered me the job anyway. At the end of the summer, they offered to put

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CAREER ACHIEVEMENT – INDUSTRY

Linda Molo

Assistant Vice President, Network Services, AT&T

“ I enjoy performing my supervisory responsibilities and take pleasure in mentoring. I believe that the employees that I develop and that get promoted are my legacy.”

—Stacey Brown

me on leave without pay. [As] a sophomore in college, I asked the colonel in the Directorate of Engineering and Housing whether they hired civil engineers. He said they did and told me to call his office. I later transferred to his office, but they weren’t very busy, so I set up an interview with one of the supervisors in the Planning Division in the Baltimore District office. At the conclusion of the interview, they offered me a job.

I continued to work there [during] semester breaks.

Following graduation, I transferred to the San Francisco District of the Corps of Engineers, where I was on the rotational program prior to being permanently assigned to the Planning Engineering Division.”

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: “In 1997 I was awarded an Achievement Medal for Civilian Service for my work as project manager for a $500 million project that resulted in the restoration of 11,100 acres of remote island habitat in the Chesapeake Bay, providing a placement site for 40 million cubic yards of sediment dredged from the channels leading to the Port of Baltimore. My father and I spent a lot of time boating on the Chesapeake Bay, and I was glad to be able to do something to help preserve some of the habitat and wildlife. I enjoy performing my supervisory responsibilities and take pleasure in mentoring. I believe that the employees that I develop and that get promoted are my legacy.”

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WHAT SHE DOES: Linda is currently responsible for planning and directing the efforts of over 420 employees who provide translations and capacity for the AT&T’s Local and Long Distance (domestic and international) network. Although network volumes have increased annually, Linda has consistently improved her team’s productivity. When she was engaged to assist with the emergency restoration of critical network capacity between the local wireline and mobility networks during the 2016 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, floods, the network capacity was restored within 48 hours.

WHY SHE WON: The Women of Color Career Achievement award recognizes individuals who lead with sensitivity and insight. Linda has a gift for building loyal teams that will work through the night with her if that is what is required. Her positive approach to problem-solving has earned her the respect of her team members, business partners, and community.

HOW SHE GOT TO AT&T: “In the early 1980s, AT&T’s California Engineering organization implemented a program to hire individuals with college degrees to perform switch capacity planning and management. I and eleven other new engineers spent six months rotating between classroom training and on-the-job application. As a Level 1 Engineer, I learned about architecture, technology, and operations of the network.

The more I learned from my engineering and operations mentors, the more I wanted to know.”

FUN FACT: “I play golf. One good shot or putt erases the memories of all the bad ones. When I first started playing a good day was coming home with all the golf balls that I left home with. Over time, playing the game has taught me to appreciate practice and patience.”

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CHAIRMAN’S AWARD

Keera A. Riddick System Responsible – Electrical/ Electronics Components FCA US LLC

WHAT SHE DOES: Keera is a senior manager in Systems & Components at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) US LLC. In this role, she has a significant influence on the design, development and implementation of key electronic components for all vehicles produced by FCA US LLC. She leads 84 managers and engineers focused on electrical technology in FCA products, such as body controllers, wireless components, comfort and convenience modules, ergo switches, and integrated center stacks.

HOW SHE GOT INTO ENGINEERING: “I’ve always been fascinated with how machines work, operate and function; therefore a career in the field of engineering was a natural choice.”

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT: Cybersecurity technical solutions. “I’m most proud of team execution of 2018 global design/development of the initial cyber security vehicle application technical solution. This project showcases specialized expertise and focused dedication of each team member to secure a quality product while meeting accelerated milestones and deliverables.” Keera also has a United States patent pending invention, “Improved Keyless Go Fob Localization Method,” with her wireless components teammates. She is actively engaged in mentoring young engineering talent.

FUN FACT: Loves to play chess, dance, and take photographs, and an avid collector of swords.

COLLEGE-LEVEL PROMOTION OF EDUCATION

Alisha White Madison Sr. Manager of Business Process Analysis Northrop Grumman Corporation – Aerospace Systems

WHY SHE WON: Alisha saw a need and took the initiative to fill the gap. At Northrop Grumman, she kicked off a Professional Development Series for the African American Employee Resource Task Group. Under her leadership, Alisha and her team pulled together a list of presenters on topics that added value not only to the participants’ skills but the company’s bottom line growth. The program is focused on transitioning minorities in technical careers toward developing soft skills and emotional intelligence that would support their movement into management, leadership, and executive levels. The leadership development program was attended by well over

1,000 employees from across the organization. Since Alisha started the professional development leadership series in 2015, Northrop Grumman launched a corporate sponsored series of leadership webinars in 2017.

OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Founder of the Bella Network: “The Bella Network gives women, specifically underrepresented women, access to highly regarded corporate, professional, and entrepreneurial women that can help them to elevate their careers and businesses to the next level of success. The organization is a way to combine my talents of training, coaching, and mentoring others with my passion for connecting people with the resources (people, processes, and tools) to elevate and empower their success. The ultimate goal is to see women create powerful partnerships so that they aren’t trying to do it all alone.”

FUN FACT: “I ride my own Harley Davidson motorcycle. There is nothing like the exhilaration of the wind in your hair and a bug hitting your teeth.”

“The ultimate goal is to see women create powerful partnerships so that they aren’t trying to do it all alone” —Alisha White Madison

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COMMUNITY SERVICE

Yin Chen

Research Aerospace Engineer, U.S. Army, Picatinny Arsenal

WHAT SHE DOES: “I teach exterior ballistics at the graduate school level.

I am a research scientist in the Army.”

WHY SHE WON: “I volunteer in many ways. For the MIT alumni association, I am an interviewer for admissions in my area. For many Army-sponsored programs, like the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, I serve as a judge at the local and national levels. For my professional society, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, I am the events coordinator, managing outreach and support events. For Women in Defense, this year, I am the Scholarship Chair for our chapter. I also volunteer at local schools as a guest speaker and engineering mentor.”

HOW SHE GOT INTO ARMAMENTS: “In undergrad, I was introduced to pistols through a PE class and was invited to join the varsity team. It was the one thing that kept me sane throughout college. At the same time, we competed with all of the service academies, and I made many friends who went on to serve. This redirected my research interests toward armament systems.”

COMMUNITY SERVICE – INDUSTRY

Monica Brooks Mechanical Engineer Lockheed Martin

GIVING BACK: “I give back to the community by volunteering in STEM-related activities, such as AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), Engineering Week, SAE International Design competition, etc., for middle school, high school, and college students. I also volunteer for a plethora of events sponsored by different organizations such as American Cancer Society, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, American Heart Association, United Way, etc.” The Lockheed Martin AVID program gave her the opportunity to visit a company-partnered middle school.

During these visits, Brooks helped prepare the students for high school and taught study skills. For the companysponsored Day of Caring for the United Way, she has been known to help build picnic tables, spread mulch, paint, and support other teams preparing for the event.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: “I’m proud of all my accomplishments, but I’d say being able to sustain a career as a female mechanical engineer at a top defense industry company www.womenofcolor.net

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE ENTERING HER FIELD: “Follow your passions, and make it what you want it to be. Be diligent and work hard, but don’t be discouraged by the limitations of other people’s visions.”

WHAT INSPIRED HER ABOUT ENGINEERING: “I love math. It is beautiful and elegant. Engineering is the skill of creatively expressing the beauty of math.”

WHAT SHE’S WORKING ON NOW: “Right now, all my spare time is spent finishing my thesis. My topic is on robotic mechanisms, and I am struggling with turning my data into words while capturing the nuances of their meaning. At work, my job consists of a lot of software programming and development of physics models.”

WHAT’S NEXT: “My next big task is the exploration of different navigation algorithms for smart munitions. My next career milestone is my one-year exchange to Singapore to work with robotics laboratories there.”

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “My biggest challenge is time management. I grew up with my grandparents while my parents were starting their careers, so I would really like to spend all the time I can with my children. With my work commitments, my volunteer work, and other unavoidable events, it is really difficult to get the amount of time to spend with my children.”

for over 30 years, and being able to mentor newer female mechanical engineers and volunteer in STEM-related activities in the process, is what I’m most proud of. I’ve always been appreciative of the people (women) who’ve paved the way for me and I feel honored to be able to help those coming behind me.” Brooks is one of 11 engineering professionals featured in “Engineering (Cool Career for Girls),” an inspirational guide book for girls who are interested in pursuing careers in the field.

BEST ADVICE: “The best advice I can give a student entering my field is to study in your undergraduate courses and look for opportunities to be interns or part of student work programs to gain as much knowledge as you can about your specific field. Knowledge is always a good thing.”

FUN FACT: “I love roller coasters and zip lining. I’ve also bungee jumped.”

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COMMUNITY SERVICE – INDUSTRY

COMMUNITY SERVICE – INDUSTRY

Manager, Mission Assurance Northrop Grumman Corporation

Process Analyst The Boeing Company

Joaneé Johnson

Crystal Miles

GIVING BACK: Joaneé Johnson was appointed to serve on Northrop Grumman’s Corporate Citizenship Committee, where she helps identify STEM K–12 education grant recipients and supports other philanthropic efforts.

She is a friendly face on panels and school Career Day events as she takes every opportunity to share her story in community organizations that include Girl Scouts of America; National Society of Black Engineers; Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math; and the Elementary Institute of Science.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: “I’m most proud of the Girl Scouts Thinking Outside the Cookie Box Conference because it started off as an idea of the girls in my Girl Scout troop.

They had no idea at the time how big it would become.

I am so proud of the light that I see in their eyes as they lead the science experiments and the confidence that they have in being able to lead their fellow Girl Scouts. I’m also most proud of this accomplishment because I get to do it with my two daughters. I remember when we first started the conference how nervous they were speaking in front of the girls, but this year you could see their newfound growth and charisma.”

CAREER: “I work on proposals to help Northrop win new business, and I try to come up with new ideas to help us continuously improve the way that we do business…I am working on a software sustainment program for the Taiwanese Navy and a software development program for the United States Marine Corps. It’s my job to make sure we meet and/or exceed the requirements and goals of the contracts I support.”

WHAT’S NEXT: “I’m always trying to learn more and to grow. Presently, I’m working under a program manager that’s teaching me more program management skills to be in a position to offer greater value to my programs. I’m not certain that I want to ascend much higher in my career with Northrop right now because my focus for the next 10 years has to be on my girls.”

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GIVING BACK: “I am proud of the results of our starting a Robotics Team and Engineering Team at Lexington Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri. My best friend, Nina Harris, teaches there and asked me to help because she felt our children of color were falling behind in STEM. Through STEM activities, we have opened their minds to a world of future possibilities that they might not have considered.

Despite their everyday obstacles, which sometimes includes dysfunctional homes and homelessness, we can see things like self-esteem and confidence grow with every accomplishment. We have two students from our club that have been accepted into a science and math magnet middle school next year and want to be engineers. They believe and dream of a better life for themselves and their future. That is what makes me proud!”

CAREER: Throughout her career, including service in the U.S. Air Force and the Missouri Air National Guard, Crystal has overcome different levels of adversity. In her role as a process analyst for Talent Pipeline Development with the Boeing Company, she helps support her coworkers’ career development.

WHAT SHE’S WORKING ON NOW: “My current professional responsibilities are assessing mid-career employees and developing a mid-career strategy for our company. Personally, we are getting ready to kick off our third robotics season, so we are preparing the curriculum and activities to prepare our students for this year’s For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (F.I.R.S.T.) Robotics Competition.”

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CORPORATE PROMOTION OF EDUCATION

Alexandra Liggins

Co-Founder, South Bend Code School

WHY SHE WON: During her senior year of college, Alexandra began instructing classes in career and college preparation before she discovered the opportunities in computer science and web development. With the help of her future South Bend Code School co-founders, Alex Sejdinaj and Chris Frederick, Alexandra put on a fiveweek program for area youth. Nineteen students went on to complete 23 websites before presenting their applications to tech professionals, city officials, and the mayor of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg. The South Bend Code School has gone on to work with over 100 students in their programs and 500 students in their community outreach efforts.

WHY SHE LEARNED TO CODE: “I did not know how to code; I taught myself. I am not naturally very good at math, a skill that I believed was necessary to be a programmer...I learned how to code in order to teach others. During college, I tutored at local high schools and noticed a pattern among

CORPORATE PROMOTION OF EDUCATION

Marilé Colón Robles NASA STEM EPDC Specialist NASA Langley Research Center

Marilé Colón Robles is an education specialist. She is also an atmospheric scientist pursuing graduate studies in STEM education. She is currently enrolled in the NASA Endeavor STEM Teaching Certificate Program. Mrs. Colón Robles studied atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also studied chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: “I was able to put together two summer camps for migratory children, one in North Carolina and another in Virginia’s Eastern Shore. As part of the experience, I helped organize an event where students had a one-on-one event with former NASA astronaut and son of migrant farm workers José Hernández. The smiles on the students’ faces, their parents’ and teachers’ were amazing.

In 2015, I organized an event called NASA STEM MANIA: STEM in Sports. The top eight teachers from that program won the opportunity to have their schools virtually connect to NASA engineer Jill Prince and NASCAR’s #48 driver Jimmie Johnson to learn about the force of drag: good for Mars, bad for cars.”

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the students — many felt that their futures were limited and that the possibilities of much progress or growth post high school were nonexistent. Whether it’s low grade point averages or the burden of financial constraints, the majority of my students thought that they did not qualify to attend college...

Therefore, after my undergraduate classes each day, I started teaching myself how to code as an effort to give students more options.”

IGNITING CAREERS: “When looking at the national statistics regarding diversity in tech, it feels amazing knowing that we are part of the efforts of introducing so many students to coding who probably would not have had the opportunity otherwise. In two years, we have exposed over 600 members of our community, youth, and adults to code...47% of the students in our program are female and 56% are underrepresented minorities.

WHAT’S NEXT?: “South Bend Code School has expanded to two new locations, Fort Wayne and Goshen. In addition to physical growth, I also look forward to staying up to date with the changes in technology, helping to ensure that our students have access to a relevant and impactful education.

A FEW FUN FACTS ABOUT ME: I rode horses for 11 years.

I did not major in computer science but am doing it!”

CURRENT ACTIVITIES: “I am in a new position as the lead for worldwide cloud observations through NASA’s Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program with SSAI. It allows students and teachers from all over the world to do authentic science activities by collecting data that scientists use in their research. Students and teachers receive an email from NASA telling them we received their data and how their observations compare to NASA satellites studying the Earth.”

HOW SHE GOT INTO HER LINE OF WORK: “I always enjoyed explaining science, engineering, technology, and math (STEM) concepts to people, from why it was possible to have Saharan dust travel from Africa all the way to Puerto Rico and settle on our cars to how tornadoes form. I had the privilege to use my STEM background and passion for education to become part of NASA y Tú (NASA and You), a joint project of NASA and Univision Communications Inc. to engage Hispanic students to pursue careers in STEM with classroom resources and connections to NASA’s Hispanic community of astronauts, engineers, and scientists.”

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CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Leona Anderson

Senior Human Resources Generalist The Boeing Company

WHAT THE AWARD MEANS: “Professionally, I have received many awards over my career, from an Employee of the Year to Change Agent. In 2016 I was honored to receive the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Corporate Partner Award. I am extremely excited about being selected for this year’s Women of Color Corporate Responsibility Award. After many years in the technical field, I found a passion working with people. I discovered my personality was an ideal fit for the human resource field. At that point, I decided to pursue a master’s degree that would segue my experience in the business world with that desire to work with people, helping them find answers and watching them walk away with a smile on their face.”

WHAT SHE’S WORKING ON NOW: “I am leading a team of Boeing employees in planning activities for the AISES 40th National Conference. (The event took place in September.) I am also leading and securing funding for a new initiative in partnership with AISES on a project called Native Girls in STEM. This partnership focuses on middle and high school-aged girls in the Native American community. In addition, I’m in conversations with other municipalities to bring STEM activities to their schools.”

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: “I am a member of several organizations, including the Society of Human Resource Management, Delta Mu Delta Honor Society, Army Aviation Association of America, AISES, SHPE, and SWE.” FUN FACTS: “I am an amazing cook. Any given Sunday, stop by…you will find a feast on my stove. I enjoy preparing meals for my family and spending time together. My favorite team is, of course, the Arizona Cardinals, and we enjoy going to their home games. I have been married for 41 years and have been told I still look 41. I’ve always wanted to travel to Europe and hope to do that one day soon.”

ENTREPRENEUR LEADERSHIP

Nicole Priester

President & CEO, Encore Solutions Inc.

NICOLE PRIESTER is president and CEO of Encore Solutions Inc. (ESI). The company is an Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business firm located in Rockville, Maryland. ESI provides customized solutions in program management, information, and communications technology and global security and infrastructure support. Clients of the company include NAVSEA, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, and the Departments of Transportation and the Treasury. Priester is an entrepreneur, leader, and public speaker. Her strengths in management and negotiations have resulted in several government contracts. ESI has grown to include technologybased government and international private sector business concerns spanning from Washington, DC, to South Africa. Priester is dedicated to the growth and longevity of the company she founded. She stays informed about technological advances to better serve ESI clients. She also uses strategic planning and innovative partnering to increase business revenues. ESI has partnered with HUD to provide STEM programs for local residents. Priester also participates in several service projects, including Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital and the Retired Military Officers Business Association.

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K–12 PROMOTION OF EDUCATION

Dr. Iris Wagstaff

STEM Program Director American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

WHY SHE WON: “I am most proud of four things: (1) making my mother proud and representing my hometown of Goldsboro, NC, serving as a role model in STEM; (2) twenty-five years of developing K–12 informal science programs, working with K–12 science teachers to design culturally relevant lessons, and providing parents with resources to encourage their children in STEM; (3) twenty-five years of mentoring K–12, undergraduate, and graduate students who are underrepresented in STEM careers— particularly in chemistry and chemical engineering; and (4) my 2016 nomination for the NSF Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math, and Engineering Mentoring.”

HOW SHE GOT THE JOB: “After obtaining a BS and MS in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University respectively, I embarked upon a 15-year career as a research chemist at Rohm and Haas Chemical Company in Pennsylvania (now known as Dow Chemical), leading project teams to solve customer problems and reverse-engineer competitive products. My mother’s illness led me to return to North Carolina in 2008 to care for her. She passed away later that year. Following my passion, I pursued a Ph.D. in STEM Education Research at North Carolina State University from 2010–2014, where my research employed statistical modeling to determine the factors that predict science self-efficacy, science identity, and STEM career intent in 9th graders. In 2015 I was selected for the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship, where I served at the Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences and led an agency-wide diversity and inclusion initiative. In 2017 I started in my current role as a STEM Program Director at AAAS, the largest general scientific organization in the world, with over 120,000 members.”

FUN FACTS: “I have been to 45 out of the 50 states.

I have been traveling since I was a baby. I am a foodie and love the ethnic and exotic cuisine. I sing and play the piano. I binge out on reality TV on the rare occasion that I have down time. I love murder mysteries like Murder She Wrote, Matlock, and Columbo.”

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MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP – GOVERNMENT

Mylan To

Project Manager Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division

MYLAN TO is currently a project manager for the Littoral Combat Ship Mission Module Program. Her skills as an outstanding leader, role model, and innovator have earned her the respect of her peers. To began her career in 1987 as a junior engineer but soon became an expert engineering investigator. She worked on projects such as the SPY radar and key components of the premier Aegis Combat System (ACS) on board U.S. Navy cruisers and destroyers. To earned a promotion to lead the Sensor System Branch. In this position, she used her leadership skills to guide engineers and technicians in conducting several important tasks. These tasks included conducting testing and assessments on variants and improvements to the SPY radar and the ACS. Because of her expertise, To became the AEGIS Baseline Manager. She provided guidance and direction to a team consisting of more than 125 Navy personnel. Her leadership resulted in the successful deployment of Baseline 7.1 naval ships.

To is currently responsible for overseeing the tasking of more than 75 personnel in the U.S. and abroad.

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MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP – INDUSTRY

MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP – INDUSTRY

Senior Director of Engineering Honeywell

Senior Manager, Manufacturing Engineering Department Manager – Electrical Supplier Engineering Raytheon Company

Maribel Wilson

MARIBEL WILSON is currently the Director of Process Engineering for Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies department. Upon joining the company in 1998, Wilson quickly gained a reputation for her excellent technical competence, managerial skills, and ability to produce results. Within two years, she helped Honeywell go from an underperforming business to a highly successful one.

Wilson received the prestigious Chairman’s Award for this accomplishment. Wilson continued to show her skills as a competent leader when she was promoted to the leadership team of Fluorine Products. She was responsible for the performance of the entire asset base, which consisted of eight manufacturing plants, more than a thousand employees, and a $900 million capital investment program for launching new products. Relying on her strategic and integrative thinking skills, Wilson led a multi-functional team to deliver $15.3 million in productivity savings. This team is currently on schedule to deliver an additional $17 million for several Honeywell manufacturing sites. Wilson consistently delivers phenomenal results for Honeywell. She embodies the qualities of a strong managerial leader and positive role model.

Cheryl Biagini

WHY SHE WON: “I have spent most of my career in engineering design and development. Last year, I decided to make a career change to increase my business acumen and skill set by taking a position in the supply chain to run the Electrical Supplier Engineering Department...I really enjoy developing others and find it a very rewarding experience to watch people grow and reach their full potential. I inspire others by encouraging them to constantly stretch themselves and soar to heights they hadn’t thought of before. I have an open door policy, and people always come first.”

WHAT SHE DOES: Cheryl Biagini leads an organization of engineering professionals focused on supplier technical performance for a portfolio of electrical technologies. She serves as a key member of the RMS Supplier Engineering leadership team. This role is critical to ensure Supply Chain achieves the mission of supplying Quality, Compliant Hardware On-Time, Every Time to factory floors and is crucial to ensure Raytheon Missile Systems meet its goals. Responsibilities include: • Developing a strong team and pipeline of future leaders and passionate successors • Developing a culture of identifying true root cause and implementing corrective actions to prevent future escapes and continuously improve overall supplied part quality • Leading the respective technology councils and supplier strategies for suppliers • Listening to the suppliers to improve performance and eliminate inefficiencies • Interfacing with peers across the corporation to solve common supplier issues across the Enterprise.

“I inspire others by encouraging them to constantly stretch themselves and soar to heights they hadn’t thought of before.”

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NEW MEDIA IT/LEADERSHIP

NEW MEDIA IT/LEADERSHIP

Deputy Director for Resource Management /IT Lead NASA Langley Research Center

Senior Manager Senior Manager, IT Service Management Enterprise Architecture The Boeing Company

Debbie Garrett Cook WHY SHE WON: This nominee is a woman working in Internet media who has a driving role in both the development of new technology and the management of technical facilities.

WHAT SHE DOES: “My primary activities and responsibilities are to supervise a team of eleven individuals, manage a task of IT support contractors, and lead a team of IT professionals.

I manage technology and services providing geospatial services and building automation and controls. This environment is roughly 75 applications running on 190 servers using 1.1 petabytes of disk and has the information needed for the operation and maintenance of over 43,000 assets and 350,000 engineering drawings at LaRC.” Debbie has developed code to route pilots away from congested airports. Her programming efforts were used in the flight computers on the research aircraft that went on to become the first modern control theory design to be successfully flight tested on a commercial-type aircraft.

WHAT GOT HER HOOKED ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: “It started with a summer job during high school as a computer operator assistant. This led me to enroll, during high school, in several programming courses. My inspiration grew into enthusiasm when I found out what a programmer could make, according to the Department of Labor. In the background of it all was an urgent need to become self-sufficient after high school in an effort to relax the financial burden on my mother, being a single parent of six. I then found out that I had a skill for problem-solving and analyzing situations. The field of computer programming came very easy to me, and I really loved the technology behind it all.”

Lisa Valle

WHAT SHE DOES: “My job is to lead a major change initiative in Information Technology–IT Service Management. A significant advancement was the implementation of the Enterprise IT Service Catalog. The Service Catalog is a centralized website providing information on all currently available IT services. This is the first time Boeing IT has had a single storefront for all of their service offerings. The catalog describes the service, sets expectations on what service support looks like, and explains how the user can engage the service. Boeing IT is transitioning from a technology-focused organization to a service-focused organization.

Through my efforts, we are now defining our work and evolving our delivery systems. In order to influence the change to the organization, I have employed multiple methods to get the message out, including websites, message boards, newsletters, and IT news articles and videos.

HOW SHE GOT INTO IT: “Every day, I’d drive to work and pass the Boeing El Segundo facility where satellites are developed. On 9/11, I remember the flags at half-staff; that is when I understood the impact it had on the DoD community. I’d tell myself I’d work there one day.

Two years later, the Boeing Company recruited me. I was one of those little girls programmed to believe that math was not for me, so I

5 WAYS SHE INSPIRES OTHERS: “As part of the NASA Intern Program, I worked with college and high school interns to motivate the pursuit of science and technology careers. I held membership in the Hampton Roads, Virginia, Chapter of the National Technical Association, where I served as president for a three-year term and received recognition for setting an annual [math contest] that would increase interest in math and science for middle school kids. I serve as a mentor and motivator to young women to pursue technical careers.

Additionally, for 15 years, I have hosted students at home from all over the world, to include France, Central America, Norway, and Canada. I work once a month with my sister in support of Feed the Hopeless in Hopewell by preparing and serving meals to the homeless at a local church.” www.womenofcolor.net

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OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION

LISA VALLE CONT’D embarked on a career on the business side.

Once at Boeing and being introduced to engineering and technology, I knew with enough knowledge of the discipline I was in, I could lead anything with the right people to support me.”

CHALLENGES OVERCOME: “When I came to IT…I remember meeting folks on my team, and it was the most fire-hosed I’d ever felt in a new job. My chief architect suggested we go to a conference together so I [could] learn the ‘language’ of this new space. For the first couple of days, I literally went to my room every night and just cried, “Why would you put me in this job to watch me fail?” By day three, I was feeling more at ease. By the end, I started asking questions and building my network. That was five years ago. That network is what shaped the way we are organized today as well as the strategic direction of our initiative. This year, I was asked to speak at that very conference. I spoke to a packed room of about 90 attendees. Talk about full circle. Being able to have leaders who can see the potential in me and give me the ability to shape leaders so they can see their own potential is priceless.”

FUN FACT: “I have an identical twin sister.

She was born eight minutes before me.”

“Every day, I’d drive to work and pass the Boeing El Segundo facility.

On 9/11, I remember the flags at half-staff; that is when I understood the impact it had on the DoD community. I’d tell myself I’d work there one day. Two years later, the Boeing Company recruited me.”

—Lisa Valle

Dr. Sinue Gomez

Manager, Glass & Surface Science Corning Pharmaceutical Technologies Corning Incorporated

WHY SHE WON: Sinue Gomez is included on 25 granted U.S. patents, 50 invention disclosures, 37 internal technical reports, and 17 external publications.

HER STORY SINCE 2006: “I started at the birth of Gorilla glass from research and supported the business from a research as well as a development perspective to create new and improved Gorilla glasses, with our most recent product, Gorilla Glass 5, which has shown an adoption rate 2X that of other Gorilla glasses over the same period of time. To date, Gorilla Glass is in nearly 5 billion devices.”

HOW SHE GOT INTO GLASS: “I came to Corning knowing very little about glass, and in less than a year, I got assigned to a high-profile project. I had to learn fast, not only about glass composition but methods to enhance its properties. I had a lot of people who mentored me. We had to have a new product in less than three months. Typical development projects and new glasses at the time took 18+ months. It was intense, but I got to work with the best. The iPhone was launched, and it had our glass! It is not only the satisfaction of knowing something you work on is out there all over the world but as our leadership reminds us, ‘Because of the work we do in the lab, a lot of people have jobs.’”

WHAT SHE’S WORKING ON NOW: “About six months ago I was assigned the position of Manager of Glass Surface Technology for pharmaceutical packaging, a new division for Corning. I am responsible for leading a team of scientists and engineers in the definition and understanding glass surfaces and product performance for pharmaceutical packaging. I also serve as project manager for the development of cleaning processes and surface cleanliness requirements for pharmaceutical packaging.”

WHAT’S NEXT: “I went mostly from individual contributor to technology manager. What I do today is very different to what I did six months ago.

I have different problems and have to worry about different aspects of glass. So, for now, I have a lot of learning and growing to do.”

FUN FACTS: “I love doing obstacle courses. I have done three ‘Tough Mudders’ and a few other smaller obstacle races.”

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OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION – INDUSTRY

Jaya Tripathi

Principal Scientist for Analytics The MITRE Corporation

JAYA TRIPATHI established her career with MITRE by applying her expertise in data analytic technology, as well as creativity and outside-the-box thinking, to many high-impact research and development projects. Jaya has developed new research programs in several areas during her current role as a Lead Scientist for Analytics at the MITRE Corporation. She is a recognized expert in the area of prescription fraud analytics and helps contribute to the company’s knowledge and reputation in this area. She has covered an array of topics in her research, from opioid abuse to crypto currencies.

Her research is being used by MITRE’s government sponsors to address the critical problem of identifying prescription drug fraud and abuse.

The outcomes of her research have been transitioned to the Indiana State Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Here, they are using her findings to advance the methods of identifying and tracking cases of prescription fraud. Jaya’s long line of successes have been well received at several conferences, and she has presented her findings at the invitations of the Pew Charitable Trust and the Mathematics Research Policy Institute. Jaya worked for several multinational corporations in different industries before joining MITRE. She has worked on projects that ranged from big data analytics to customer retention forecasting for a large telecommunications company as well as other industries.

PRESIDENT AWARD

René H. Bostic Technical Vice President, IBM Cloud Unit, North America IBM Corporation

RENE BOSTIC is the North American vice president of the IBM Cloud Division. She leads several important initiatives, including the North America Cloud Acceleration Program and the North America Cloud Summit initiatives. Bostic is an expert in issues concerning Cloud computing. Several papers and articles have highlighted her expertise on the subject. She was also featured on a segment of “The Cube” discussing customer engagement with Cloud technology. In addition to her technical expertise, Bostic is respected for her leadership skills. She has successfully led more than 500 technical employees through the IBM transformation in driving Cloud-based solutions. Another of her strengths is the ability to work successfully with departments, teams, and clients across all of North America. It is clear that Bostic contributes a great deal to the success of IBM. She graduated with honors from Saint Andrews Presbyterian College with degrees in business administration and computer science. She also participates in several STEM initiatives and organizations within IBM.

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PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT – GOVERNMENT

Danielle Griffin

Glenn Research Center Technical and Quality Audit Lead NASA Glenn Research Center

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: “I received an Exceptional Achievement Medal from the NASA Administrator at the 2015 Honor Awards Ceremony for outstanding improvements to the GRC Mishap Investigation Program.”

Mishap investigations allow NASA to report, investigate, and document mishaps, close calls, and unidentified workplace hazards to prevent similar occurrences in the future. “I worked really hard at revamping the GlennResearch Center (GRC) mishap investigation program.

To go from a program needing significant improvements to a best practice across the Agency was a major feat. Then to be recognized by the Administrator for these efforts was rewarding.”

HOW SHE GOT TO NASA: “I thought that I would always want to be a chemist. Once I accomplished all of my goals and objectives I became bored. I then moved my career path to become the mishap manager for the Center. Once I experienced the same lull with chemistry, I opted to manage the audit program so that I could learn all of the facets of GRC’s organizations. So essentially my evolution to constantly learn and to improve led me here.”

MENTORING: “Mentoring students allows me to be a role model for the younger STEM generation; this allows me to spark a passion on how science is cool, especially with minorities, to increase the candidate pools. I have the opportunity to pay it forward, which is the most rewarding job for a mentor.”

FUN FACTS: “I enjoy jet skiing, traveling to warm climates, spending time with family and friends, love good meals. Don’t want to cook -— my goal is to one day afford a personal chef, LOL!” WOMENOFCOLOR | FALL 2017

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PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT – INDUSTRY

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Aruna Anand

Rosalyn Kent, M.S.

Head of Continental Engineering Services, North America Continental, North America

Graduate Student Research Assistant University of Michigan

ROSALYN KENT is currently a doctoral candidate in the University of Michigan chemistry program. When Kent was admitted to the program, she was one of only two black women represented among the faculty, staff, and graduate students. Kent became determined to help the program become more diversified. She has worked to recruit the best students from underrepresented backgrounds. Kent volunteers each year to host an M-CORE student. Because of her positive influence, all of those students have enrolled in the University of Michigan. Kent has also given presentations informing students about how to apply to graduate school. As a direct result of her efforts, the department has eight black women in the graduate program, and 12 percent of its graduates are from underrepresented minority groups.

Kent is recognized as one of the most enthusiastic recruiters for the chemistry doctoral program. She often speaks to undergraduates about the importance of graduate school. Kent has also participated in the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. Based on her recommendation, the University of Michigan will attend the conference for recruiting purposes.

ARUNA ANAND has worked hard to create a strong career with Continental Engineering North America. Aruna moved from India to the United States at the age of 21 when she took a job with the company’s North American Powertrain Division. She went on to serve as Head of Software for Gasoline Engine and Transmission Systems for the Engine Systems business unit as well as the Chassis & Safety and Interior divisions. However, her contribution to the company and its employees goes much further. She is the Executive Sponsor for the Continental Women’s Forum, a group that helps to equip women with the skills to advance in their respective fields. She has also participated in Continental’s Women @ Work (W@W) panel, which is made up of female and male executives across the company who share their career advice. Aruna currently mentors one former employee and three other employees in the company. She also volunteers her time by participating in STEM-related outreach service programs through Continental’s effort called Caring Hands. Aruna earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Anna University in Chennai, India, and her master’s degree in computer science and engineering from Oakland University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in systems engineering, swarm intelligence, and adaptive learning from Oakland University.

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TECHNICAL INNOVATION – GOVERNMENT

TECHNICAL INNOVATION – INDUSTRY

Shuo Chen

Reygan Freeney Science Officer U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center

DR. REYGAN FREENEY works on Personal Protective Equipment programs for the U.S. Army. Her Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) work is important to Army personnel. In her role as a science officer for the Protective Equipment Division (PED), Dr. Freeney is responsible for acquiring knowledge of hard and soft body armor, helmets, test fixtures, and small arms ammunition.

To achieve these goals, it is necessary to develop test plans, prepare schedules and cost estimates, conducts tests with test officers, and collect data from a variety of sources. Since joining the Firepower Directorate in 2015, Dr. Freeney has made a significant contribution. She became the project lead for the Room Temperature Clay Replacement Program and is currently the lead in several RP#1 replacement efforts.

Her innovative plan to monitor performance specifications of RP#1 earned her accolades. Dr. Freeney established test methodologies that are now used to create a database consisting of the chemical and mechanical properties of RP#1.

In addition to the RP#1 replacement project, she is involved with several technology initiatives. Some of these initiatives include measurement improvements, female body armor test methods, and drag curve development. Dr. Freeney looks forward to bigger and better innovative discoveries.

Lead Software Systems Engineer The MITRE Corporation

SHUO CHEN is a lead software systems engineer for the MITRE Corporation. Chen has consistently applied a wide range of skills to advance research and develop solutions to air traffic control domain issues. Peers cite her knowledge, leadership style, and innovative ideas as reasons why she is an exceptional role model and successful engineer.

Since joining MITRE, Chen has made significant technical contributions and improvements to the air traffic control domain. Most notably, she developed speech recognition technology to process voice communication between controllers and pilots. This was a major step in the improvement of air traffic safety. One of her earlier accomplishments was the creation of a bilingual training system. The system used speech recognition and text-to-speech to train controllers in a simulation environment. To design and develop the English and Spanish component, Chen learned Spanish and worked with controllers in Argentina to understand their accents and phraseology. The resulting dual language system is in use today in Buenos Aires.

When not working on engineering projects, Chen volunteers with a notfor-profit dance company as a teacher, sound engineer, stage manager, and technical director.

VISIONARY AWARD

Linda Hilbert, P.E. Executive Director, Environmental & Lab Service Consumers Energy

LINDA HILBERT has spent the past five years as the Executive Director of Environmental and Laboratory Services for Consumers Energy. Both through this role and beyond, she has demonstrated leadership that has helped transform the company’s corporate strategy and employee culture relative to environmental stewardship. Linda and her team have continuously pushed the boundaries of possibilities for Consumers Energy. She played a key role in determining opportunities for corporate goals related to environmental performance.

Consumers Energy became the first utility in the U.S. to publish voluntary goals for reducing carbon emissions, reducing water use, and increasing recycling efforts. It was under Linda’s leadership that the company was able to reach all of those voluntary goals several years in advance of their targets. Since 2014 Linda has served on the Council of Great Lakes Industries’ Board of Directors and as an EPRI Environmental Sector Council member. Linda earned both her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from Michigan State University.

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SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Melissa Bolden

Assistant Vice President, Program Management/Merger Integration AT&T

MELISSA BOLDEN is an assistant vice president with AT&T. She is responsible for managing the most complex merger integration program in the company’s history. The $600 million initiative will consolidate billing, ordering, and provisioning systems. This will simplify operations and allow the company to better sell, service, and support its customers.

Bolden was chosen for this task because of her ability to understand complex issues and collaborate and communicate with business leaders of all levels. Bolden has a career with A&T that spans 20 years. She has worked in several areas, including corporate accounting, finance, mergers and acquisitions, and operations. Bolden is not only a role model within AT&T but is highly respected in her community as well.

She is known as a reliable person who always delivers on her commitments on and off the job. Her leadership responsibilities are many, including her work with several AT&T Employee Resource Groups. Women of AT&T, HACEMOS (Hispanic Association of Communications Employees of SBC), and Women of Finance have all benefited from her leadership. Bolden also does work with SIDS, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the American Heart Association.

“I am the Executive Sponsor for the Continental Women’s Forum, a group that helps equip women with the skills to advance in their respective fields. I also mentor one former employee and three current company employees.”

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Pamela Bolden

Electric Construction Manager II Consumers Energy

PAMELA BOLDEN is currently a customer field services manager with Consumers Energy and leads a statewide team of up to ten field leaders. Her department acts as first responders during emergencies. Bolden is responsible for employee safety and productivity while they are in the field dealing with customer commitments. Bolden is known for her dedication to the employees under her management.

Sending them home safe is just as important as keeping the lights on for Consumers Energy customers. She has built bonds with union employees and company management to better encourage them to make improvements for employees and customers. Her genuine interest in the well-being of all people has earned her the respect of employees and peers. In addition to her commitment to Consumers Energy, Bolden participates in several community service projects.

She organizes Habitat for Humanity events and sits on the board of the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program.

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SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Jianhua J. Chen

CISSP IT Enterprise Architect Dominion Energy, Inc.

INSPIRATION: “Both my parents are engineers. I grew up watching [them] and their fellow engineers in a mechanical workshop and was fascinated by how machines work. I read books about computers but never had the privilege to lay my hands on one. I chose to major in computer science so that I could learn more about computers, and I never regretted my choice.”

CURRENT JOB: “I work with other Enterprise Architects in the development of IT strategy and to ensure consistency with all enterprise and business unit policies, standards, roadmaps, and best practices.”

BIGGEST INFLUENCE: “My supervisor and mentor at my first job in the U.S. has been the biggest influence in my career. He always says that it’s important to spend an hour each day to learn something new, and I couldn’t agree more.”

GIVING BACK: “I’m a member of Virginia Cyber Security Partnership. I also participate in the local school PTA and support STEM programs.”

FAVORITE APP: “Dictionary—English is not my first language, and I find the dictionary app very handy.”

Air Force recruiter’s office trying to decide which job track to pursue, a fellow female enlistee said, “I don’t know why anyone would want to be a mechanic,” to which Ursula replied, “Someone has to fix the plane you’re flying to basic training.”

WHAT SHE DOES NOW: Appointed Vice President of Environment, Health & Safety in April 2014, Ursula oversees an organization of 720 employees and controls a yearly budget of $205 million. She is responsible for leading Boeing’s enterprise-wide safety standards, the establishment of a zero-injury culture, and the development of an enhanced environment strategy for the company, launching in 2018.

She is also Executive Vice President of Programs for the 13,000-member Boeing Management Association, a position she was elected to in 2015.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Ursula English

Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety The Boeing Company

HER STORY: From a very young age, Ursula loved airplanes.

She decided to follow in her family’s footsteps and join the United States Air Force. Her father was a Korean War Veteran and her great aunt was a World War II Veteran. Sitting in the

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GIVING BACK: Ursula focuses her personal service toward women, addicts, homeless persons, or children who have lost a parent. She is currently an active board member for Residence XII, a women-only recovery center in Washington State. She is also a member of OSAT, which is a non-profit organization aimed at helping recovering addicts and their families. In the past, Ursula has been a volunteer at Comfort Zone Camp, a grief camp for children.

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SPECIAL RECOGNITION

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Akilah Miles

Ze Etta Elaine Murphy, MSE

Project Manager Turner Construction Company

Senior Supplier Engineer II Raytheon Missile Systems

HER STORY: “I was first inspired by my own interest in buildings. This was enhanced by my dad and brothers, who all worked in construction. I originally thought I wanted to be an architect and then decided that I didn’t want to sit at a desk behind a computer. My advisor shared with me the architectural engineering major, which sounded like the best of both worlds. I obtained an internship with Turner Construction in college and fell in love with project management. I joined Turner after graduation, and the rest was history.”

CAREER IMPACT: “Through my career, I have been able to impact the lives of many people who use the facilities we have built, specifically the schools where learning happens.

I have been able to participate in career days mentoring sessions to provide inspiration to young girls with big dreams but [who] never considered a STEM career. I have also been able to participate in subcontractor outreach sessions to empower minority business owners to keep pushing and working hard to make their mark in our industry.”

GIVING BACK: “I serve as a mentor in the ACE mentoring program, which serves students with interest in architecture, construction, and/or engineering. Through Turner, I serve as a mentor to Phelps High School Engineering Academy, which serves high school girls who have in interest in engineering.

I am a facilitator for the Turner School of Construction Management, where I teach classes on how to be a successful contractor to small and startup companies.”

WHAT’S NEXT: “Help re-establish the recruiting efforts to bring more minority women to the industry and to continue building institutions of learning as a senior project manager where I can create the right environment for my staff to learn and grow.”

“I have been able to impact the lives of many people who use the facilities we have built, specifically the schools where learning happens.”

Akilah Miles

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CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS: “Delphi Intellectual Property Award because it enabled me to develop two patents: European Patent No. EP1696484 B1; United States Patent No. 7,229,855 B2 Process for Assembling a Double-Sided Circuit Component issued June 17, 2009, and June 12, 2007, respectively.”

RECOGNITION: Murphy has been recognized for her ability to lead teams to solve challenging problems within the production flow and to troubleshoot issues, design experiments, analyze data, and produce solutions at both the design and manufacturing levels.

WHAT SHE’S WORKING ON: She currently manages 80+ part numbers for 10 production programs at six major suppliers under the interconnects and cables technology group, totaling more than $20 million of hardware in support of Air and Missile Defense, Air Warfare, Land Warfare Systems, and Naval and Area Mission Defense System product lines. Murphy drives Raytheon design requirements to improve manufacturing and quality capabilities of suppliers, to initiate continuous and measurable design, and to process improvement of supplier hardware for affordability.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “[The] challenge has been pacing myself when working on multiple projects at the same time. [I] learned to create a completion plan with a reasonable/achievable timeline.

Slowing down to review planning is always a good idea.”

WHAT’S NEXT: “I am working to transition into a supplier engineering lead role and plan to start program management training in Spring 2018.”

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SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Rita Mas Ramírez Manufacturing Engineer Boston Scientific Corporation

WHY ENGINEERING: “My uncle was an industrial engineer and served as a role model. I was inspired by the opportunities for me to innovate, to be challenged, to work in partnerships, to create a positive impact on people, and bring my diverse background to the field.”

WHAT SHE DOES NOW: “I have responsibilities as a manufacturing engineer for the Cardiac Rhythm Management division in the Bradycardia and Tachycardia lead manufacturing.”

BEST ADVICE: “Do a co-op or internship in your field. It helps to create a sense of networking with employees that provide mentoring. It also enables confidence on projects that have exposure at all levels and to work with diverse teams. It exposes you to work situations and how you deal with them.”

MEMORABLE MILESTONES: “The 2014 Outstanding Contribution Award from Boston Scientific Dorado Young Professionals Network for a Leadership Model for a Cancer Awareness Campaign. This started as a fundraiser to help a co-worker whose child was battling a brain tumor. It coincided with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September. It all started in my cubicle with gold ribbons, a nomination wall, and a fundraising goal of $2K for Boston Scientific Dorado employees. Around 56 employees donated money and shaved their heads, six donated hair to create free natural wigs for cancer patients, and more than $12K was raised. I was filled with emotion that a campaign that had started small exhibited the spirit of winning through our site and other sites, at all levels, demonstrating collaboration. We were honoring our co-worker’s family and united in compassion in support of children diagnosed with cancer every year.”

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Bernie I. Thomson, PMP Deputy Chief of Staff U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

BERNIE THOMSON is acknowledged for her leadership abilities, professionalism, and relentless initiative within and outside her normal job duties as the Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE). During her 37-year career, she has served as an engineer for the USACE and our country. She began as an Engineer Regiment before rising up to Lieutenant Colonel and currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Headquarters. She has ascended through the ranks, both military and civilian, and has proven her leadership at every level. Bernie earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture from City University in New York and a master’s degree in civil engineering in project management from the University of Washington. She is a certified project management professional, has completed the Army Command and General Staff College, holds a Level III Facility Engineer certification, and participated in the Harvard University Executive Leadership program with DHS. Additionally, Bernie has contributed her time by volunteering in various global activities, including Rebuilding Together Montgomery County, U.S. Army of eCYBERMISSION, and Komen Rally for the Care.

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SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Melissa Wong

Acting Section Supervisor Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

MELISSA WONG is a senior engineer and specialist in cyber security. Since joining the Applied Physics Laboratory, Wong has successfully contributed to several teams. She has shown leadership ability in several areas, including the APL career tracks of technical professional, program management, and line management. While serving as the technical lead for a key embedded system task, Wong led a team of 10 engineers. The team developed a new networking equipment model and simulation capability incorporating real-time hardware. Wong contributed a great deal to the success of the project. During her time as a U.S. Air Force Captain, Wong was responsible for several teams on the Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. One major project involved leading a team to manage the cost, schedule, and performance of antenna patterns and radar cross-section tests. She was also the primary engineer for the EF-111A Self-Protection Tactics Development and Evaluation. Her duties included analyzing missile fly-out data, debriefing aircrew, and developing the final test reports. Wong studied computer and systems engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She studied electrical engineering at Texas Tech University and mechanical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Tia Wright

Lead Application Developer United Parcel Service

TIAVONNIA WRIGHT is a lead applications developer for United Parcel Service (UPS). She began as a temporary employee in 2004, but her ability to work hard, learn quickly, adapt, and nurture relationships resulted in a permanent position. In 2008 Wright was one of 11 UPS employees selected for a technology opportunity program. The program was for high-performing UPS employees with STEM degrees. This was the catalyst that propelled Wright into a career within the UPS Information Services division. In her current position as lead application developer, she leads junior team members with project tasks and activities. Wright also provides knowledge and support for application development, integration, and maintenance. Wright has a flourishing career within UPS. She has contributed to several initiatives and goals that support the UPS commitment to innovation. Wright has twice been recognized as a Horizon Award winner along with her teammates. Her projects cover everything from mobile applications promoting volunteerism to large enterprise solutions.

Wright is recognized as a leader within UPS and within her community. She regularly mentors junior and senior developers. She also spends nine months out of the year mentoring high school students and attending conferences and events that encourage youth.

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SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Jie Xue

Vice President Cisco System Inc.

MY JOB: “As the Vice President of Cisco Supply Chain’s Technology & Quality group, I am leading my team in the exploration of several next generation technologies to bring differentiated Cisco products to customers. This ranges from 100G heterogeneous silicon photonics to high-speed connectors and 2.5D/3D technologies, advanced PCB, thermal cooling solutions, and advanced algorithms for automated decision-making.”

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: “I am an International Microelectronics Assembly and Packaging Society (IMAPS) Fellow; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow; IEEE-Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology (CPMT) Society Distinguished Lecturer, and former President of IEEE CPMT from 2014 to 2015. As President of IEEE CPMT, I spearheaded the rebranding and revitalization of the society to keep pace with the evolving microelectronics industry. I am a published author of more than 90 technical papers, hold 12 patents, and serve as a keynote speaker for myriad domestic and international conferences.”

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT ME: “I love the outdoors. My husband and I have hiked almost all the major national parks in the U.S.”

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Raina Yancey

Chungjing (Jane) Yi

Principal Technical Support Engineer, Global Support Oracle Corporation

Staff Engineer The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

RAINA YANCEY has more than 20 years of experience as an IT professional and is currently a principal technical support engineer for Oracle Corporation. In this position, she excels in providing technical support and customer management to Oracle’s largest clients. Yancey consistently uses her excellent technical and leadership skills to contribute to the growth of the company. She is equally concerned with helping her community by participating in several community service projects. Yancey is the local community leader for the Orlando chapter of ABLE (African-American Business Leaders for Excellence) at Oracle. As the leader, she is responsible for enhancing Oracle and the surrounding community. She accomplishes this by encouraging a strong community spirit, recruiting volunteers, delivering mentoring programs, and promoting cultural awareness.

Her career and personal success are attributed to her commitment to excellence, her dedication to the community, her willingness to mentor young people, and her cultural consciousness. The strong and compassionate leadership she provides fosters trust and helps build long-lasting relationships.

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HER STORY: “After I graduated from college, I entered Goodyear as a clerk. However, I was looking for something closer to my background in chemical engineering. Fortunately, I eventually became a compounder engineer in Goodyear.”

CURRENT JOB: “My main job is compound development for Original Equipment customers. I am also involved in external collaboration with the Luxembourg Institution of Science and Technology.”

CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS: “Developing the new apex compound for Mercedes AMG is the proudest achievement I have. It was the first project for me—to develop a compound in my Luxembourg assignment.

The project was very successful despite the tight timing. In addition, this compound has been used in many other projects.”

WHAT’S NEXT: “I will take a new assignment in a Goodyear American plant. After that, I plan to move to Goodyear headquarters in Akron.”

BEST ADVICE: “One of my mentors in Goodyear, who gave me strong encouragement and very valuable career advice, was a strong influence in giving me the confidence needed to pursue my career aspirations.

At the same time, he made me realize that we have unlimited potential for achieving great things. In the beginning, the engineering field could be tough for a newcomer. But with perseverance and patience, you can reach your potential. As you gain more experience and knowledge, you will find that with each new project, you will get confidence and fulfillment.”

FUN FACT: “I really enjoy traveling. I have been to 21 countries so far.”

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2017 Women of Color Award Winners : WAVES of CHANGE = Opportunity

2017

Women of Color Technology

ALLB STARS & RISING STARS

y 2020 around 22 percent of the world’s cars will be connected to the Internet (290 million vehicles), and by 2024 more than half of home Internet traffic will be used

by appliances and devices. By 2026 a trillion sensors will be connected to the Internet. Our digital, physical, and biological worlds are converging. Here are 300 women who are a vital part of the dramatic technological change happening all around us. Some work in robotics. They design and operate software that runs automated machines or robots as well as computer systems. They are building intelligent robots and self-driving cars of the future. Others are data scientists and engineers focused

WOC22

on information, statistics, and analysis. Some are computer

WAVES of CHANGE =

scientists solving complex problems in computing from gene editing to 3D printing. Others are physicists and mathematicians working on defining the requirements for programs and projects or supporting improvement in technology and processes. To do their jobs in interaction design, project management, product management, and software development, they all rely on business analysis skills for success.

TECHNOLOGY ALL- STARS LaDonna Alston

IT Process Analyst

The Boeing Company

Willetta Ar-Rahmaan

Senior I/T Specialist – Automation & Functional Test Leader

IBM Corporation

Teneika Askew

Senior Consultant

Booz Allen Hamilton

Analiza Barker

Power Plant Shift Operator U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District

Cassandra Borders

Area Manager Network Services

AT&T

Ay-Chyi Boudreaux

Advisory Software Engineer

IBM Corporation

Catina Broadway

Senior Manager, Production Control and Supplier Management

The Boeing Company

Kristen Brown

Global Delivery Manager

General Motors

Ying Cao

Principal Member of Tech Staff

AT&T

Linda Caperton

Lock and Dam Operator

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Kara Carter

Senior Director Quality Operations and Compliance

Abbott Vascular

Diana Centeno-Gomez

Deputy Chief, Aeronautics and Ground – Based Systems Branch

NASA Glenn Research Center

Rachel Chennault

Associate

Booz Allen Hamilton

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TECHNOLOGY ALL-STARS Debbie Clark

Software Development Analyst 4

Ashley Claxton

Research Biologist U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Darlene Cooper

Technical Project Manager

NUWC Division Newport

Sylvia Core

Equal Employment Specialist

U.S. Army

Janice Daniel, Ph.D.

Associate Dean, Network College of Engineering

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Alyssa Duarte-Reinagel

Senior Manager, Health Management

The Boeing Company

Teara Edwards

Worldwide Service Planner

IBM Corporation

Elaine Enriquez, Ph.D.

Senior Consultant

IBM iX Research Insights

Sohaila Feizy-Marandy

Design Responsible – Interior Electromechanical

FCA US LLC

Aradhna Forrest

Human Resource Generalist

The Boeing Company

Donna Gardner

Director, Supply Chain Management

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Kimberly Greene Starks

Executive Architect, Master Inventor

IBM Corporation

Torrye Hairston

Career Development Specialist U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command

Fangming (Lucy) Harris

Senior Controls Project Engineer

Alicia Harrold

Business Analyst

The Boeing Company

Heather Heckler

Industrial Engineering Technical Support & Training

General Motors

Andrea Henrich

Senior Sales Manager

Infosys Ltd

Stephanie Hicks

Project Engineering Manager

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company

Shakira Hicks

Associate

Booz Allen Hamilton

Lelia Hollis

Chief, Small Business U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District

Taneka Hutcherson

Sr. Mgr., CyberSecurity & Privacy

IBM Corporation

Smita Israni

Associate Director – Technology

AT&T

Cheryl Jefferson, Ph.D.

Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives

USDA Forest Service

Monique John

Product Marketing Manager

AT&T

La Shawn Johnson, Ph.D.

Area Manager-Network & Quality

AT&T

Lisa Jones-Stanton

Program Manager

Ford Motor Company

Jayalekshmi Karunakaran

Technology Lead

Infosys Ltd

Elizabeth Kies

Senior Technical Project Management

AT&T

Leah Kimble

Supervisor Material Handling 1

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Sailaja Kodali

Delivery Manager

General Motors

Sonali Kulkarni

Director

Texas Instruments Inc.

Cindy Lankford

IT Chief of Staff, Application Infrastructure Services

The Boeing Company

Lai Lau

Principal System Architect

AT&T

Catherine Lee

Lead, Secure Environments & Tools Service

The Boeing Company

Dina Leon

Mechanical Engineer

Black & Veatch

Leslie Leonard

Research Civil Engineer U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Ming LiI

IT Manager, Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Service Strategy and Design

The Boeing Company

Prathima Masker

iCloud Solution Architect – Oracle

IBM Corporation

Betty Susan Mathew

Project Manager

Infosys Ltd

Robin May

Manager, Industrial Engineering

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Karrin Mayfield

Project Engineer

Marine Corp Systems Command – PEOLS

Sandra McLaurin

Systems and Data Analyst

The Boeing Company

Donna Melton

Manager 2 Planning and Scheduling (Acting Manager 3)

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Lisa Miller

Senior Manager

General Motors

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Huntington Ingalls Industries

Corning Incorporated

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TECHNOLOGY ALL-STARS Lilibeth Mills

Manager, Production Control Purchasing

The Boeing Company

Veronica Mitchell

Technical Insertion & Monetization Manager

General Motors

Sandhya Naredla

Senior Project Manager

Infosys Ltd

Khanchana Navakiran

Principal Consultant

Infosys Ltd

Neda Nazem

Global Airline & Travel Procurement

The Boeing Company

Joan Oliver

Business Process Analyst

The Boeing Company

Gihan Oraby

Chief, QE&SA Sciences Division

U.S. Army – ARDEC

Pina Patel

JTT Project Leader

CECOM Sofware Engineering Center

Bepsy Paul

Senior Software Engineer

IBM Corporation

Angela Pierre

Director, Supply Chain Management

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Michelle Pu

Lead Information Systems Engineer

The MITRE Corporation

Adrienne Raglin, Ph.D.

Electronic Engineer

U.S. Army Research Laboratory

Mary Camilla (Cami) Ragu

Application Run Manager – SAP Center of Excellence FCA US LLC

Angela Rahman

Manager, Security and Compliance

IBM Corporation

Melissa Ray

Application Database Administrator

The Boeing Company

Martha Schulze

Assistant Vice President – HR Technology

AT&T

Indira Semwal

Lead Information Systems Engineer/Group Leader

The MITRE Corporation

Payal Shah

Systems Design and Integration Specialist

The Boeing Company

Keiko Shiotani

Computing Process Analyst, Information Technology The Boeing Company

Kerri Shotwell

Senior Software Engineer

IBM Corporation

L. Michelle Smith

Director of Public Relations

AT&T

Wenhui Song

Vehicle Architecture Manager

General Motors

Lawanda Stitt

Senior Lead Technologist

Booz Allen Hamilton

Delma Stoner

Environmental Engineer U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Tina Terrell

Acting Associate Deputy Chief for Business Operations

USDA Forest Service

Esther Thatcher

Head, Combat Systems Acquisition Division

NUWC Division Newport

Doris Thaxton

Associate

Booz Allen Hamilton

Monesa Unger

Manager, Windows 10 Program Office

The Boeing Company

Prasanna Uppu

Senior Technology Architect

Infosys Ltd

Daya Vivek

Senior Engineering Manager, Watson Discovery Service Management API

Watson Innovations

Janki Vora

Data Scientist, Telecommunications Industry Leader IBM Corporation

Romanda Walker

Public Affairs Specialist U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District

Natalie Watkins

Senior Lead Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton

Leslie Weldon

Deputy Chief for National Forest System

USDA Forest Service

Shanta Whitaker, Ph.D. Consultant

LMI

Exa Whiteman

Assistant Vice President – Global Security Services

AT&T

Tomeka S. Williams

Associate Department Head, Cost and Business Analytics Department

The MITRE Corporation

Pamela Williams

Senior Consultant

LMI

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TECHNOLOGY RISING STARS Tsedeniya Abraham

Product Line Manager

Texas Instruments Inc.

Juanita Agard

Staff Technologist

Booz Allen Hamilton

Rekha Agrawal

VP & Gen. Mgr. Building Solutions

Johnson Controls

Tikia Allen

Engineer

Missile Defense Agaency

Donna Allman

Industrial Engineer 3

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Paulina Almada

Design & Release Engineer

FCA US LLC

Shameka Almond

Versatile Technology

The Boeing Company

Neeharika Anantharaju, Ph.D. Vehicle Safety/Crash Engineering Analyst

FCA US LLC

Marlyn Andino, Ph.D.

Research Aerospace Engineering

NASA Langley Research Center

Crystal Angerstein

Network Engineer

General Motors

Pallavi Annabattul

Computational Fluid Dynamics Engineer

FCA US LLC

Semhar Araya

Human Systems Engineer

NAVSEA/NSWC Dahlgren

Tianna Barnes

Quality Control Engineer

FCA US LLC

Alisa Basila

Staff Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton

Tobi Bennett

V-22 Osprey Data Management Analyst / Software Engineer

The Boeing Company

Erika Beskar

Engineering Manager

Texas Instruments, Inc

Andrea Blackwell

Senior Consultant

Booz Allen Hamilton

Jameka Blanchard

Versatile Technologist Service Delivery Momager

The Boeing Company

Dawn Boren

IT Partner Manager Specialist

The Boeing Company

Shin Boulware

EMC Component Engineer

FCA US LLC

Tulanda Brown

Senior Safety Consultant

Caterpillar Inc.

Twana Burrow

Employment Opportunity Adviser

U.S. Army

Abigail Burton

Staff Analyst for VP of Global IT Infrs. Serv.

The Boeing Company

Tonese Bussie

Senior Subcontract Administrator

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Kenishia Callaway

Client Technical Specialist

IBM Corporation

Tonya Cleveland

Senior Subcontract Administrator

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Kelly Coller, Ph.D.

Principle Engineer

Abbott Diagnostics

Kia Conyer

Electical Engineer II

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Kimberly Cooley

Accountant III

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Dwana Cordova

QA Engineering Asc. Manager

Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control

Tracey Cryer

Electrical Engineer 3

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Lupe Czerwinski

Executive Director

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Lana Davis

IT Project Management Specialist

The Boeing Company

Terressa Davis

Procurement Agent

The Boeing Company

Sheetal Desai

Platform Solutions Engineer

General Motors

Bridget Douglas

Financial Analyst 3

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Caron Drake

Lead – World Class Manufacturing

FCA US LLC

Emmylou Dulla

Nuclear Engineer 2

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Alexandra Echegaray

Senior Chip Physical Design Engineer

IBM Corporation

Monique Exum

Group Leader, Aviation CONOPS & Research

The MITRE Corporation

Lora Faraon

Project Responsible – Electrical

FCA US LLC

Crystal Garner

Client Technical Specialist

IBM Corporation

Erin Gauch, Ph.D.

Engineer

NUWC Division Newport

Hong Geng

Program Lead – Engine Programs

FCA US LLC

Daisy Glotzhober Analyst www.womenofcolor.net

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TECHNOLOGY RISING STARS Eldesia Granger, Ph.D.

Group Leader

The MITRE Corporation

Brittany Greene

IT Process Analyst

The Boeing Company

India Gregory

Network Designer

The Boeing Company

Lisa Grott

Executive Director

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Emily Guerrero

Senior Consultant

Booz Allen Hamilton

Xiaoju Guo, Ph.D.

Development Associate

Corning Incorporated

Kristen Haug

Data Scientist

LMI

Crystal Henry

Compliance Program Specialist

IBM Corporation

Claudine Hernandez

Systems and Data Analyst

The Boeing Company

Rebecca Higgins

Ballistic Missile Defense System Ground Test Engineer

Missile Defense Agency

Carmilla Hoard

Carpenter Forman

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Joy Holley

IT Executive Integrator

The Boeing Company

Feliscia Jackson

Senior Computer System Security Technologist

Raytheon Company

Stacey Jackson

Items Analyst Manager

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control

Kartiga Devi Jayakumar

Technology Analyst

Infosys Ltd

Theresa Johnson

Data Specialist

Airbnb

Aisha Johnson

Core HMI & Ergonomics Manager

FCA US LLC

Jennifer Jones

Manager Administration

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Nicole Jones

Materials, Process and Physics Engineer

The Boeing Company

Erika Keeling

Unit Leader – Press Room

FCA US LLC

Juliet Kim

Advisory Software Engineer

IBM Corporation

Bridgette Kirkpatrick

Manager 2 Test and Trials

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Diane Ko

Front End Software Engineer

Airbnb

Sirisha Kontamukulla

Software Development Manager

Dovel Technologies

Sneha Kumbhare

Consultant

Infosys Ltd

Paola Ladin

IT Process Analyst

The Boeing Company

Heidi Lagares-Greenblatt

New Technology Introduction Program Manager

IBM Corporation

Shawn Landers

Subcontract Administrator

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Monica Lear, Ph.D.

Associate Deputy Chief for Research and Development

USDA Forest Service

Angle Leott

MK1/E6 Petty Officer

United States Coast Guard

Aize Li, Ph.D.

Senior Research Scientist

Corning Research & Development Corporation

Dongyu Lin, Ph.D.

Principal – Inventive Scientist

AT&T

Eileen Liu

Executive Leadership Development Program, Human Systems & Autonomy

Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories

Baiyang Liu

Senior Researcher

General Motors

Selina Lok

Systems Engineer

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lakita Lowe

Research Scientist/National Research Coordinator

Barrios Technology

Samia Madarani

Director – Products and Services Strategy

Dovel Technologies

Suanne Mahabir

Principal Engineer

Abbott Point of Care Diagnostics

Blanca Martel

IT Specialist (Test Data Management)

IBM Corporation

April Martin

Manager 2 Project Manager

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Sandra Martinez

Payloads Engineering Manager, 777X Interiors Architecture Integration

The Boeing Company

Virginia Mayo

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM Senior Certified L3 IT Specialist

IBM Corporation, Global Technology Services

Beshada McGregor

IT Project Manager

The Boeing Company

Lisa McKinnon

Navy Modernization Program Manager

Carrier Planning Activity

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TECHNOLOGY RISING STARS Sabrina McKnight

Director-Advanced Analytics

AT&T

Evelyn Millier

Global Expense Reporting Lead

General Motors

Lakenya Mixon

IT Sourcing & Vendor Manager

The Boeing Company

Ana Mowles

Executive Director

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Divya Myneni

Active Noise Cancellation Product Release Engineer FCA US LLC

Anitha Nellutal

Software Test Analyst

General Motors

Cristina J. Neville

Senior Manager, Product Manager

Johnson Controls

Kristi Nguyen

Systems & Data Analyst

The Boeing Company

Mary Katherine Nigro

Lead 747/767 Certification Engineer/ Specialist

The Boeing Company

Eniola Okunlola

Application Database Administrator

The Boeing Company

Geena Oommen

Business Development Executive

Infosys Ltd

Debra Owens

Telecommunications Specialist

United States Coast Guard

Niyati Parameswaran

Senior Data Scientist

IBM Corporation

Gabriela Perea Aguirre

HVAC Systems Engineer

FCA US LLC

Ullas Perez

IT Project Management Specialist

The Boeing Company

Maria Perez

Data Scientist Manager

Airbnb

Saradha Peri

Lead Business Analyst

Dovel Technologies

Camisha Peterson

Engineer 4

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Tiffany Polk

Executive Director

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Krithika Prakash

Senior Software Engineer

IBM Corporation

Ranjini Prasad

Technology Lead

Infosys Ltd

Belinda Rabio

Senior Manager

Southwest Airlines

Renita Reed

Service Delivery Manager – Technology Integration Service

The Boeing Company

Camille Robbins

Chief

U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center

Abigail Rodriguez

Materials & Processes Engineer

NASA Glenn Research Center

Rivkah Saldanha

Senior Architecture Engineer

General Motors

Tracy Scott

Program Management Mgr.

Lockheed Martin

Melissa Shaw

Program Director, IBM Platinum Care

IBM Corporation

Jagdeep Shergill

Systems Engineer Staff

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company

Sabina Shrestha

Lead Associate

Booz Allen Hamilton

Cinthia Silva

Manager, Regulatory Affairs Operations

Abbott Vascular

Priyanka Singh

Senior Consultant

Infosys Ltd

Denise Singletary

Senior Managing Consultant

IBM Corporation

Dionna Slemmons

CIDS Program Quality Manager

Raytheon Company

Nikkita Soni

Business Process Manager, Digital Marketing

FCA US LLC

Hui-Chien Spivey

Global Support Center Manager

IBM Corporation

Tiffanni Stroy

Supplier Program Manager

The Boeing Company

Nadia Sunny Manufacturing

Aeroteck

Gayathri Suresh

Technology Lead

Infosys Ltd

Srilatha Tangirala

Advisory Software Engineer

IBM Corporation

Lakshmi Thanyankizil

Connected Vehicles Senior Engineer

GM Global Technical Center

Natalie Thao

Database Administrator

The Boeing Company

Sangeeta Theru

Manager – Powertrain HIL and Validation Tools

FCA US LLC

Priya Thyagarajan

General Engineer

Consumers Energy

Michelle Tomlinson

Executive Director

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Leah Tooks

Systems Engineering Staff

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Janelle Turner

Small Business Liaison Officer Team Lead

The Boeing Company

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TECHNOLOGY RISING STARS Brianna Ursery-Hairlson

IBM Test Program Manager

IBM – Global Business Services

Adriana Valido

Senior Software Engineer – Technical Lead for Watson in Support Tools and Innovational

IBM Corporation

Fatima Wagdy

Staff Technologist

Booz Allen Hamilton

Mijal Warat

Executive Director

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Chanel Watkins

Computing Security Information Protection Specialist

The Boeing Company

Candace Weber

Senior Product Marketing Manager

AT&T

Stefani Werner

Engineer Systems, Modeling and Simulation 2

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Veonicca Wesley

Senior Systems Engineer II

Raytheon Missile Systems

Brandy Wiggins

Navy Modernization Program Manager

Carrier Planning Activity

Doreen Wong

Senior Consultant

Booz Allen Hamilton

Nancy Wray

Software Development Analyst 4

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Grace (Chao) Xiang

Global Advanced Quality Manager, Battery Components

Johnson Controls

Lolita Young

Software Developer

GSMC – Dealer Plus- SPI

Yolanda Youngblood

Associate

Booz Allen Hamilton

Sai Zeng, Ph.D.

Research Staff Member, Manager

IBM Research

Ke Zhang-Miske

Global Technology Planning Manager

General Motors

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BOOK REVIEW

Women in Tech

by Tarah Wheeler Van Vlack But it’s the stories of other women in the field that provided the inspiration for her new book, which has just been released.

The book looks at a broad range of issues relevant to the work of women in tech around the world, including entrepreneurs. It contains advice ranging from interviews, networking, and entrepreneurship to developing, mentorship, and family balance. According to Forbes, “It’s jam packed with insights from women in the field.

Opportunities Must Not Go to Waste The book references growing awareness among venture capitalists that there are huge opportunities currently going to waste around the world where female entrepreneurs aren’t given the backing their ideas and ambitions merit.

Women in Tech is essentially a portable version of Wheeler Van Vlack’s mentorship. It has practical advice and personal stories from a variety of voices, and it covers every stage of a tech career, from applying for your first job to starting your first company. The book is lively and entertaining, and it’s a vital read for any woman working in technology.

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According to Wheeler Van Vlack, women make up 57% of the overall workforce, but only 25% of computing jobs are held by women.

In five years or less, computer science will have about a million new jobs or over $500 billion worth of opportunity. The tech industry is creating jobs three times faster than universities are graduating computer scientists. It is this reality that Tara Wheeler Van Vlack addresses in her wonderful book, Women in Tech.

In Women in Tech, Wheeler Van Vlack argues that this has a lot to do with unconscious biases and societal expectations on women that start as early as childhood. Other factors include work environments that aren’t friendly to women, especially if those women ever want to have children.

Her writing style is empowering, and I did not put the book down until I was done. Along with her collaborators, Wheeler Van Vlack writes a positive message while sharing information and inspiration.

Even if you don’t know the difference between C++ and C#, if you interact with technology-focused companies at all, you can learn a whole lot from this book.

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Here are the five most important career lessons I took away from this book: 1. “Tech is not like airplane maintenance, where not having had the job title before means that you have never done it. Instead, think of yourself as average until proven otherwise.”

When applying for jobs, especially when applying for your first tech job, don’t automatically sell yourself short. Women are more likely to assume they aren’t qualified for positions if they don’t check off every single box on a job listing. Show the company what you’ve got, and let them decide.

2. “The greatest and best mentors will appear for you if you appear for someone else first.”

Even when you’re just getting started, you must have both mentors and mentees. Wheeler Van Vlack says this is absolutely crucial. More often than not, you’ll learn even more from your mentees than your mentors. Plus, you can change the tech world’s demographics through mentorships.

3. “Your job does not merely consist of keeping your current job.

In this economy, your job is 1) keeping your current job, 2) keeping your skills more current than is necessary for the job you are in and preferably ahead of the market as well, and 3) keeping your network ready for an onslaught of job request emails.” If you want to get ahead in your career, your “job” isn’t just that thing you go to every day to get a paycheck.

Your job also includes preparing for your future by networking and diversifying your skill set. Van Vlack suggests tacking on ten hours to every work week and considering this “nonoptional professional development time.”

4. “Do not schedule your work. Schedule your free time and activities. Do not touch work during your free time … Your physical and mental well-being are the fuel that lets you pursue your dreams.

Maintain them diligently.”

Wheeler Van Vlack gives this advice in the chapter on starting your own business, but it’s applicable to any busy stage of any professional career. This seems obvious, but it’s so easy to ignore self-care when you’re facing a million deadlines. Prevent burnout by allowing yourself time to recharge and do other things you love.

5. “There is a price to success, and constant criticism from others is that price … Do your best to be gracious and helpful to the people who helped you and supported you along the way.”

If you’re a high-powered tech executive, you can be criticized for anything you do. Clearly, in the right hands, this is a good problem to have since it means you have some sort of power to make decisions.

But don’t let that power trick you into thinking you’re invincible.

Written by a female startup CEO and featuring a host of other successful contributors, this book will help dismantle the unconscious bias against women in the tech industry. Readers will learn the following: • The secrets of salary negotiation

• The secrets of mentorship

• The best format for tech resumes

• How to start your own company

• How to ace a tech interview

• And much more

• The perks of both contracting and salaried full-time work

By Catherine Tillman editors@ccgmag.com

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CAREER OUTLOOK Auto Industry

N Industry Overview N Job Horizon N People to Know

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CAREEROUTLOOK | Industry Overview

Auto Industry Jobs &

What Auto Employers Want

By John Lancer editors@ccgmag.com

B

reaking into the auto industry right now is no simple task.

A combination of engineering and digital skill teamed with an appetite for discovering and delivering on the potential

in the future of auto-making technology would be a good start.

GM CEO Mary Barra often talks of her love of math and science while at school, and its likely these core qualifications will remain a standard requirement, along with the addition of programming and digital prowess.

Approaching and applying for an internship at one of the major automakers is also still a valid way to break into the auto industry. However, given the already confirmed disruptive nature of digital startups and how they can provide major players with what they need, there are other ways that can be considered too.

This detail is borne out in auto industry employment figures. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were some 5,500 fewer auto industry workers in July 2017 than a year earlier. However, digital roles that are relevant to the auto industry aren’t included here, as they fall under different criteria when those skills are brought in via a third party.

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how vehicles are manufactured—right through from concept to creation. It’s no secret that robotics is beginning to feature heavily in the manufacture of vehicles in the U.S. It’s also true that the increased use of robotics in the manufacture of cars isn’t what’s weighing on job creation. That means if this is the path you’re keen to go down, then carry on—it’s likely any innovations you’re involved with will benefit consumers and auto industry workers alike.

What Auto Industry Employers Are Looking For While all this talk of digital innovation and electric and selfdriven cars is exciting and opens up potential new paths for graduates to enter the auto industry, there’s still a real need for STEM qualifications, specializations, and passion.

This is valid across the sexes when planning a career in the auto industry. Anything else with a digital or new tech spin is a bonus—for you and your future employers. But it seems that advanced STEM education is what employers in the car industry are looking for now and will continue to look for in the future.

Knowing more about science, technology, engineering, and math and how digital needs can be fulfilled within that framework is something forward-looking car makers are always seeking. Prove you have those qualities, and you’ll be on the right path toward the career you want. Internships are still an excellent way to work your way into your preferred industry.

However, it isn’t easy to secure an internship at the biggest and best businesses. Academic excellence is expected, which is why you have to give them something more too.

A Digital Route Considering the increased need for technological improvement and the possibility of a pick-and-choose offering for future carbuying consumers, entering the auto industry on a less welltrodden path might be the answer for many future graduates.

Just as innovation is needed in the car industry, it could prove useful for those hoping for a career in that industry too.

Collaborating with digital enterprises that specialize in providing specific products that can be integrated into bigger digital systems is just one way graduates can use their love and understanding of particular specialties to break into the auto industry.

Taking a brave leap of faith and creating your own technology startup, perhaps through a crowdfunding venture, to develop something you know could transform the autonomous or electric vehicle production and operation is another.

But it doesn’t have to stop there. Digitization in the auto industry isn’t only about what goes into the cars; it’s also about

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You need to be able to prove you have a great work ethic, are full of ideas, and have a real passion for cars, engines, creativity, green fuel, or whatever it is that you—and they—think is the next big thing in the auto industry.

No Guarantees Of course, regardless of which option you take and how hard you work, there are no guarantees of a place in the auto industry at all, let alone in the specific area you’re interested in. That doesn’t make it an any less valid path, however, provided you have the right idea, at the right time, for the right market.

As you can see, just like the increasingly confusing landscape that’s developing in the auto industry itself, the way graduates enter the industry is rapidly changing and breaking new ground too.

Innovation across all aspects of the auto industry—from vehicle design to engine development and consumer sales processes—is happening right now and until numerous areas are better defined and the end consumer gets what they want. That’s unlikely to change any time soon, which means automakers want innovators that can deliver on both.

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CAREEROUTLOOK | Job Horizon

Auto Industry Prospects & What Employers Are Looking For

T

he U.S. automotive industry isn’t looking too great right now. The six-year sales recovery from the 2008–09 financial crisis appears to have come to an end. On top of that, executives are in a spin about how to manage the maelstrom of changes that are battering the basic premise of industry production and customer requirements.

market leader, while Tesla has now overtaken Toyota.

Driverless, or autonomous, car production is another area of development and investment. If automakers get it right and they safely and legally make it onto the road, driverless cars could be a feature of the U.S. roads by 2020—or even sooner, according to GM Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra.

“We’re also investing in transformative technologies around electrification, autonomous technology, connectivity, and shared mobility services,” said GM’s CEO Mary Barra in the recent conference call discussing GM’s second quarter earnings. “We will continue to build on our significant progress by driving improvements across markets and in product segments.”

Chart source: St. Louis Fed

Of course, consumers still want and need to buy cars. But the market sectors are growing—not shrinking. Indeed, as generation Z gets older and begins to form part of the army of auto consumers, their expectations are clashing with major car producers’ traditional and longstanding manufacturing concepts.

Digital Disruption Isn’t the Only Issue Digital disruption is a swiftly growing headache for some automakers, while for others, it’s a way to drive their ideas forward. However, neither group is really succeeding—yet.

One major consumer-facing detail automakers need to nail is how to give buyers every option they can think of while keeping costs under control and also growing profits to keep ahold of shareholders and investors.

As you might imagine, it’s not an easy job. But that’s only one issue in a fast-changing industry.

There is also fierce competition in the developing electric mobility market as vehicle makers battle to win an increasingly conscientious market with more environmentally friendly expectations than ever before. Indeed, while Toyota was pressing forward in the battery electric vehicles sphere (BEV), research by PWC highlights that BMW remains the current 78 ‹

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When Automakers Don’t Plan Ahead Getting back to the initial statement that things aren’t all that great for the auto industry right now, car giant Ford is a case in point.

While 2016 was a very good year for the company—it earned a pre-tax profit of $10.6 billion, it’s second highest profit ever—analysts anticipate the business needs to pare back on its profit forecasts for 2017 and possibly even into 2018.

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Total Vehicle Sales in the U.S. from 2012-2017

Why? Failure to respond to the changing needs of car consumers and creating vehicles that compete with the broader market on self-driving cars. Even though the well-known U.S. car maker is offering electric and hybrid models—and has been since 2011—that wasn’t considered to be enough to push profits higher. “We believe that Ford’s earnings outlook may need to be reset as much as 50 percent lower over the next 18 to 24 months,” Morgan Stanley auto analyst Adam Jonas said in a CNBC interview.

And When They Do However, following a change in leadership at Ford—with Jim Hackett now at the helm—things could soon improve for Ford. And the new CEO’s strong stance on its electric vehicle plans and open mind on self-driving vehicles has brought about a change of heart. While analyst Adam Jonas has so far fallen short of saying Ford’s profits will benefit immediately from the new plans, he was much more upbeat on the company in August than just a few months ago.

“We expect Ford to go ‘all-in’ on EVs. With an emphasis on pure EVs,” Jonas said in a client research note. “We are www.womenofcolor.net

People to Know hopeful for a significantly upgraded level of transparency, given the pace of change in EV adoption and expenditure worldwide.”

Auto Industry Outlook As you can see from the few key details highlighted here, the outlook for the auto industry is mixed to say the least. However, with the right mix of investment, development, pushing boundaries, and giving consumers what they want, there is a definite, positive way forward for the auto industry. For most businesses though, it’s a case of navigating the current confusing situation in a way that suits their company setup and target consumer too.

It’s likely, though, that five years from now could be a little more settled and automakers will have a better idea of where their strongest income streams will come from. That suggests that while production might not exceed the magic 17 million number by much, what is being produced will better suit the needs of auto consumers.

“Digitization, increasing automation, and new business models have revolutionized other industries, and automotive will be no exception,” the McKinsey Institute stated in its latest auto industry report. “Given the widespread understanding that game-changing disruption is already on the horizon, there is still no integrated perspective on how the industry will look in 10 to 15 years as a result of these trends.”

As underlined by the McKinsey Institute, looking further ahead is trickier still, largely due to future demand of traditional combustion engine vehicles.

Despite the push toward alternatively fueled and operated cars, right now even diesel engines remain a mainstay of many automakers’ output.

That’s unlikely to remain the case forever, but until that changes, car makers must broaden their horizons, innovation, and output to satisfy as many potential customers as possible.

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Top Women in the

Automotive Industry

T

he women in this list are helping to lead the automotive industry in the digital age. They are corporate officers and auto worker representatives for Arconic, FCA, Ford, GM, Nissan, Toyota, and the UAW. Some are in marketing, software, and services for automated driving, purchasing, finance, human resources, project management, supply, and corporate services. Together, they are making a difference in vehicle engineering, design, and auto-related manufacturing, especially at a time when women dominate high-growth auto markets of green cars and small cars, account for 49% of the car-buying market, and make almost 80 percent of the purchase decisions in homes across America.

ARCONIC Natalia Leymaster Project Engineer Arconic Davenport Works Around the world, it’s estimated that 420 million people boarded a flight in 2016. Chances are the aluminum in the body of the airplane they flew on was produced by the people of Arconic Davenport Works.

In 2014 Natalia Leymaster, 29, joined Alcoa Davenport Works, which later became Arconic Davenport Works in 2016, as a process improvement engineer.

Since it opened in 1948, the Davenport Works aluminum rolling mill has been a leader in providing materials and high-tech aluminum alloys for planes, trains, and automobiles.

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CAREEROUTLOOK | People to Know has a great reputation for employee pride and stability. That’s why Natalia didn’t miss a beat choosing one of the area’s largest employers after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Iowa in 2013.

It didn’t hurt either that her husband grew up knowing the social impact of the company.

California, Irvine in the Ph.D. biomedical engineering program.

Natalia admits her biomedical engineering major and work experience in a biochemistry lab hadn’t quite prepared her for work in an assembly production line. But the company’s long tradition of employee development is helping her prepare for a promising future.

Born in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, Natalia attended Colegio Avante Elementary School and graduated from Centro Educativo Patria. She then opted for a two-year community college to figure out what she wanted to do before enrolling in a four-year biomedical engineering degree course at the University of Iowa. Natalia graduated in May 2013. While studying at Iowa, she worked in a biochemistry lab for four years and did a co-op at CIVCO Medical Solutions for five months. She also did a semester at the University of

Recently, she was promoted to project engineer and selected for a course focused on management, knowledge, cost efficiency, innovation, and budgets for rising mid-level managers. Natalia hopes to start a family with her husband in the next five years and to continue to learn new skills for the digital era. Her parents still live in Mexico, as do some of her siblings, so she has firsthand exposure to changing locales and different cultures.

FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES N.V. Bonnie Van Etten Group Accounting Officer Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. As group accounting officer for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Bonnie Van Etten is responsible for overseeing the company’s accounting, reporting, and internal controls. She was named to the position in March 2017 and is based in Auburn Hills, MI. Prior to her current role, she was the vice president-chief accounting officer for North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and FCA US LLC. Van Etten has handled a number of financial responsibilities within the company, including serving as head of global technical accounting and accounting research for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and FCA US. She joined the Company in December 2010 from American Express, where she served as vice president, regulatory reporting. She received her Bachelor in Finance from Anderson University in Indiana.

WOC: What tips do you have for young people entering the industry?

BVE: The auto industry is just as high tech, exciting, and dynamic as many other industries.

There is a lot of research, investment, and focus on the next generation of technology to go into vehicles, including autonomous driving, electric/ hybrid powertrains, and innovative engineering solutions to meet the emissions and other regulations in the global markets. The market spans the globe in terms of opportunity to excel and advance in your career. Besides, being 80 ‹

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xxxxxxxxxx.

By Lango Deen ldeen@ccgmag.com

CAREEROUTLOOK | People to Know part of an industry that has remade itself many times over successfully is exciting!

WOC: How should young people prepare for accounting jobs in the auto industry?

BVE: My advice is applicable to accounting jobs in any industry.

Accounting is the language of business, and understanding the basic accounting concepts is critical to success in the auto industry—or any industry.

Make sure you have a good foundation in understanding the debits and credits. Learn about the products and services of your company from end to end, from the research and development, to production, to sales.

Understanding the different aspects of the products and services will help you understand how your area of responsibility fits into the big picture.

Own your job—demonstrate that you can master the tasks given to you, and you will be given more opportunity and responsibility. Have intellectual curiosity, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Be willing to take lateral job changes in order to learn different aspects of accounting and finance and to gain a broad foundation on which to build your future career.

My advice is applicable to accounting jobs in any industry. Accounting is the language of business, and understanding the basic accounting concepts is critical to success in the auto industry—or any industry.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY Felicia J. Fields Group Vice President for Human Resources As Ford Group Vice President for Human Resources since March 25, 2008, Felicia Fields leads the global human resources for Ford Motor Company. She reports to Jim Hackett, Ford president and CEO. In this position, Fields provides expertise in key HR capabilities, including succession planning and talent management, strategic workforce planning, compensation and benefits, organization development, recruiting, and leadership and professional development. She is also responsible for the company’s Dealer Policy Board. As a group vice president, Fields ensures the development and execution of business strategies that reflect the global business environment as well as customer and market needs.

Fields previously was Vice President for Human Resources, an appointment she received on January 1, 2005. Before that, she served as executive director of Human Resources, Automotive Operations and Corporate Staffs. Since joining Ford in 1986, Fields has held HR leadership positions in Manufacturing, Research, Information Technology, Finance, Product Development, and Corporate Development. Fields is the secretary and a member of the Board of the Inforum Center for Leadership, and she was formerly on the board of directors for the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) and also served as Vice Chair of the Governance Committee.

Her outstanding leadership and professional achievements have been recognized by numerous professional and news organizations. Named as one of the Automotive News 100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive Industry in 2015 for the third time, Fields’s other recognitions include 2015 Black Enterprise Most Powerful Women in Corporate America, Michigan Chronicle’s 2014 “Power 50,” an Honorary Doctor of Business degree from Northern Michigan University, 2010 Black Enterprise Most Powerful Women in Business, American Society of Employers (ASE) 2009 HR Executive of the Year, and Michigan Chronicle’s 2009 Women of Excellence Award.

Born in 1965, Fields is a proud third-generation Ford employee. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with high distinction from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University.

She has various certifications in leadership development, personal effectiveness, and diversity.

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People to Know GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY Mary T. Barra Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra was elected Chairman of the GM Board of Directors on January 4, 2016, and has served as CEO of GM since January 15, 2014. Under Barra’s leadership, GM is focused on strengthening its core business of building great cars, trucks, and crossovers while also working to lead the transformation of personal mobility through advanced technologies like connectivity, electrification, autonomous driving, and car sharing.

Prior to becoming CEO, Barra served as executive vice president, global product development, purchasing & supply chain and as senior vice president, global product development. In these roles, Barra and her teams were responsible for the design, engineering, and quality of GM vehicle launches worldwide. Previously, she served as vice

Alicia Boler Davis Executive Vice President, Global Manufacturing Alicia Boler Davis was named executive vice president, General Motors Global Manufacturing in June 2016. Her responsibilities include manufacturing engineering and labor relations. She is a member of the GM Senior Leadership Team and the GM Korea Board of Directors. She reports to GM CEO and Chairman Mary Barra. Prior to her current position, Boler Davis was senior vice president, global connected customer experience, where she led connected customer activities, including infotainment, OnStar, and GM’s Urban Active mobility initiatives. In 2012 Boler Davis was appointed U.S. vice president, customer experience.

Later that same year, her role was expanded to vice president, global quality and U.S. customer experience. Previously, Boler Davis was plant manager of the Michigan Orion Assembly and Pontiac Stamping facilities as well as vehicle line director and vehicle chief engineer, North America Small Cars. Prior to that, she was plant manager at the Lansing, MI, www.womenofcolor.net

president, global human resources; vice president, global manufacturing engineering; plant manager, Detroit Hamtramck Assembly; and in several other executive engineering and staff positions. Barra began her career with GM in 1980 as a General Motors Institute (Kettering University) co-op student at the Pontiac Motor Division. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1985, followed by a Master in Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1990. Along with leading GM, Barra is a member of the Stanford University Board of Trustees and the Stanford GSB Advisory Council. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Economic Club and the Board of Trustees for Detroit Country Day School and as a member of the Business Council and Business Roundtable. Barra is also co-chair of the Department of Transportation’s Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation.

Consolidated Operations, and Arlington Assembly in Texas, where she was the first African-American woman to be a plant manager at a GM vehicle manufacturing plant. Boler Davis has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, from Northwestern University, a master’s degree in engineering science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and an MBA from Indiana University. She began her GM career in 1994 as a manufacturing engineer at the Midsize/Luxury Car Division in Warren, MI. During her career, she has held many positions of increasing responsibility in manufacturing, engineering and product development. In 2014 she was named Technologist of the Year by Women of Color magazine. In 2010 Automotive News included Boler Davis in its list of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive Industry. She serves on the board of directors at General Mills, is a member of the Northwestern University McCormick Advisory Council, and is a board trustee of the Care House of Oakland County. Boler Davis also serves as Executive Liaison for the GM WOMEN leadership board.

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CAREEROUTLOOK | People to Know TOYOTA Tracey Doi Chief Financial Officer, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. and Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing, North America Group Vice President Toyota Motor North America

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA INC. Rebecca Barker Vest Vice President, Corporate Development and Social Responsibility Rebecca Barker Vest is vice president, corporate development and social responsibility, for Nissan North America, Inc. In this position, Vest oversees functions that enhance corporate partnerships, corporate social responsibility, and environmental footprint. She also oversees the diversity, corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, sustainability and 4R, OEM partnerships, and internal audit functions.

Prior to this position, Vest was the vice president of purchasing, and her responsibilities included all oversight of purchasing activities for parts, materials, vendor tooling, logistics, services, machinery and equipment, media, after sales, and accessories for Nissan’s operations throughout the North American region. She also served as the North American regional purchasing head for the Renault-Nissan Purchasing Organization.

Tracey Doi is chief financial officer of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., and Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing, North America as well as group vice president of accounting and finance of Toyota Motor North America, Inc. Doi leads a team responsible for accounting, finance, tax, treasury, vehicle cost, and shared services supporting Toyota’s regional operations, encompassing sales, manufacturing, design, and engineering for the Toyota and Lexus brands in North America. Doi is an executive member of the management, audit, risk and benefit committees responsible for setting strategy and midterm business plans and guiding Toyota’s sustainable growth. She serves as an officer and director for several subsidiaries. Doi joined Toyota in 2000 as vice president, corporate controller and was elevated to CFO in 2003, with later added responsibility for indirect procurement, real estate, and administrative services. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business economics at UCLA and her CPA while in public accounting. Doi serves on the board of directors and audit committee of City National Bank, the board of directors of the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, the U.S.–Japan Council, and the Japanese American National Museum. Doi recently completed two terms on the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Economic Advisory Council.

Vest joined Nissan North America, Inc in 2009 as director, powertrain purchasing. In that role, she led purchasing efforts for all powertrain projects in North America (U.S. and Mexico).

In addition to this role, she served as the Monozukuri leader, working with suppliers to improve their competitiveness.

Before Nissan, Vest worked for over 22 years at Toyota, where she held positions of increasing responsibility in purchasing, including parts, materials, facilities, strategy, and parts commodity engineering. Additionally, she spent two years at the Toyota Technical Center, where she was responsible for cost planning within the engineering organization.

Vest earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Kentucky. She is based in Franklin, Tennessee.

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People to Know UNITED AUTOMOBILE WORKERS (UAW) Cindy Estrada Vice President Cindy Estrada was elected to her second term as a UAW vice president in 2014.

The longtime union organizer and social activist was first elected as vice president in 2010 and is the first Latina elected to serve as an International officer. Estrada developed a passion for the labor movement while listening to her grandparents talk about their work experiences on farms and inside the factories of Detroit. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in education, Estrada began organizing. In 1995 Estrada was assigned to help organize workers at Mexican Industries in southwest Detroit. The organizing campaign resulted in one of the largest UAW victories for Spanish-speaking manufacturing workers. That win, along with other significant UAW organizing successes, led then-UAW president Stephen P. Yokich to appoint Estrada to the International’s organizing staff in 2000. In 2006 she was appointed

administrative assistant, overseeing the development of the UAW’s organizing strategy. Estrada’s next appointment was to serve as national organizing director. In 2010, during Estrada’s first term as an International vice president, her responsibilities included directing the UAW Independents, Parts and Suppliers/Competitive Shop Department; Public Sector Servicing Department; and the Women’s Department.

Estrada’s vision has resulted in breakthrough agreements in the seating and other major auto component part industries.

She has also focused on improving worker job security by creating links between the supplier industry and GM, Ford, and Chrysler as well as supporting innovative organizing efforts by parts workers who aren’t earning a living wage in partnership with other low-wage workers. Upon her re-election as vice president in June 2014, UAW president Dennis Williams assigned Estrada to lead the General Motors Department, making her the first Latina to do so. In addition to the GM Department, she was also assigned to lead the Independents, Parts, and Suppliers (IPS) Department and will continue to organize in those areas. She will also continue to lead the Women’s Department.

“Leading the UAW Women’s Department for the past seven years has been a real honor because our union sisters are some of the most powerful and creative people I’ve met,” Estrada said. “It’s also been a serious responsibility because, unfortunately, UAW women—just as all women in our society—face continued sexism based on the structure we all live in. With the help of women and men, we’ve been able to make real progress for UAW women in terms of election and appointment to more leadership positions, and I know that we are going to keep going in the right direction.”

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