Tech Collective’s Kathie Shields Honored with 2011 Leading Women to the Top Award

Oct. 25, 2011 - PRLog -- Providence, RI – October 25th, 2011 – Tech Collective is proud to announce its Executive Director, Kathie Shields, has been named a Leading Women SENE 2011 Leading Women to the Top Award winner. Kathie was announced as the “Advancing Women’s Excellence in Business (non-profit)” honoree during Leading Women SENE’s event, Candid Conversations from the C-Suite, on October 17th, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Leading Women SENE’s “Advancing Women’s Excellence in Business” award recognizes women both for their business accomplishments as well as their work to empower and inspire those around them. It is presented to women who “embody Leading Women’s definition of leadership: ‘Leadership is using the greatness in you to achieve and sustain extraordinary outcomes by engaging the greatness in others.’”

Shields’ cited achievements include:
- Revitalization of the Tech Collective organization
- Procurement and distribution of more than $6M in grant funding
- Provision of over 1,000 transitioning and incumbent workers with industry-related training
- Support of Tech Collective’s GRRL Tech event and Women in Technology Committee, as well as community partnerships with other women and girl –serving organizations
- Member of the Career Pathways Committee, the board of the Rhode Island STEM Center  at Rhode Island College, and professional development student at Institute
- Service as a mentor to her team and colleagues

“Leading Women is honored to recognize Kathie Shields for her achievements and outcomes in her industry, as well as for inspiring others, especially women and girls by sharing forward her time, talents and knowledge,” said Lisa Bergeron, president of Leading Women SENE.

“This is an esteemed award, and I am grateful to Leading Women for selecting me to receive it this year,” said Shields. “Moreover, however, I am grateful to my own mentors, colleagues, and the Tech Collective staff for giving me the opportunity and support to make an impact deemed deserving of the Leading Women to the Top Awards. Thank you and I look forward to all of us continuing to make a difference together.”

The three additional 2011 Leading Women to the Top Award winners are:
- “Excellence in Business” – Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP
- “Advancing Women's Excellence in Business (for profit)” – Susan Keller
- “Leading Women's Champion of the Year” – Valerie Littlefield

For more information about Leading Women SENE or the Leading Women to the Top Awards, visit http://www.leadingwomen.biz.

About Tech Collective:    
Tech Collective is Rhode Island’s Information Technology and Bioscience Industry Association. Uniting industry, government and academic stakeholders, our mission is to inspire, engage, educate and employ a high-skill, high-wage Knowledge Economy in Rhode Island. Since its transition from the Rhode Island Technology Council (RITEC) in 2004, Tech Collective has received more than $6M in federal, state and private grant funding to foster industry collaboration, awareness and development through events and initiatives including: Tech10, GRRL Tech, Women in Technology, Bio-Ed, and STEM-based education and training programs for K-16 students as well as incumbent and transitioning workers. For more information about Tech Collective, please visit www.tech-collective.org.