NMITSA Celebrates Women in IT
TOP NEW MEXICO WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY RECOGNIZED
Today the best women in technology from across New Mexico were recognized at a lunch ceremony at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Albuquerque presented by the New Mexico IT & Software Association.
The 2008 Women in Technology awards event was hosted by 770 KKOB Radio’s Terrie Q. Sayre and included a keynote presentation by Caren Shiozaki, Executive Vice President, Managing Director and Chief Information Officer of Thornburg Mortgage. Caren spoke of the critical need for female leaders in technology companies and the recent decline in the number of women pursuing science and technology-related careers, due at least in part to a lack of female role models.
Brad Key, NMITSA Chairman and Director of Software & Systems at QinetiQ North America highlighted the value of the event, “We believe that inspiring more women to choose technology careers is critical to ensuring that our country can compete in the global economy, that we maximize opportunities for innovation, and that the technology industry is as diverse and creative as the people it serves.”
The awards were presented to seven exceptional New Mexican women for their leadership, commitment, expertise, innovation, accomplishments, and technical excellence in the technology arena. The awardees are:
Caroline Dennis. Cofounder, Grappa Wireless Internet / President, Wired Nation
Patricia Janney, CIO/COO, New Mexico Energy Federal Credit Union
Shelly Jennings, IT Manager, PNM Resources
Samantha Lapin, President & CEO, POD, Inc.
Irene Anne Lee, Principal Investigator, Santa Fe Institute
Diane Schaller, Deputy CIO, City of Albuquerque
Kelley Shaw, Mainland Engineering Manager, Commercial Data Systems
The Annual New Mexico Women in Technology Awards includes a golf tournament that will provide multiple $500 scholarships to deserving young women studying information technology at the college level. The project also includes a “Women in Technology Internship Program” which plans to match young women in high school or college undergraduate studies with hi-tech companies for summer or part-time internships.
The Women in Technology golf tournament is scheduled for Monday, April 7th at Four Hills Country Club. Foursomes are still available. Anyone, men or women, who would like to participate as a golfer or a sponsor, can contact Phil Garcia, NMITSA Director of Operations, at phil@nmitsa.org or visit NMITSA.ORG for more information.
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The New Mexico IT & Software Association is the state’s largest technical association representing the information technology industry. The association offers technical programs, special interest groups, networking opportunities, and industry advocacy as well as presenting the annual New Mexico IT Excellence Awards and Women in Technology Awards.
