20th Annual Women of Color STEM Conference Aims to Close The Gender Gap in Technology

BALTIMORE - Aug. 6, 2015 - PRLog -- Career Communications Group (CCG) will be hosting its 20^th Annual

Women of Color STEM Conference October 15-17 in Detroit, Michigan at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. A powerful line-up of workshops, networking opportunities, and signature events are scheduled including the Student Leadership Dinner, Technology Recognition Lunch, Women of Color Awards Breakfast, and Women of Color Awards Gala. Registration opens July 15, 2015.

Since its 1996 origin in the nation’s capital, the conference has been paving the way for the advancement of women in traditionally underrepresented science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The conference is attended by industry professionals, recruiters, speakers, and trainers, along with rising seniors and students seeking encouragement and guidance. Seminar topics focus on technical innovation, career training, professional development, managerial leadership, and diversity and inclusion.

The conference’s official hashtag #STEMISAGIRLTHING boldly celebrates STEM being a field in which young and older women are able to enter and excel greatly.

“There is a deficit of skilled STEM workers in the U.S. to support our economy, and minorities and women continue to be significantly underrepresented in those high-value, high-paying jobs,” explained Tyrone Taborn, CEO of Career Communications Group. “The national movement to reinvigorate STEM education efforts has just begun to build momentum. We’re extremely proud to be pioneers with a rich decades-long history and distinguished reputation for promoting and celebrating multiculturalism in STEM fields.”

Women of Color STEM conference award recognition provides employers with a unique opportunity to recognize top talent and achievements, improve retention, and solidify their commitment to diversity in the workplace.

For more information, visit www.womenofcolor.net

2015 Women of Color STEM Award Winners

Career Achievement - Government
Debbie Martinez
Deputy Project Manager
Aeronautics Research Directorate

Wanda Staton-Riggins
Engineering Branch Head
Naval Air Systems Command

Career Achievement - Industry
Monica Wilkins
Divisional Vice President, Quality Systems and Business Strategic Support, Abbott Quality & Regulato Abbott Laboratories

Cynthia Taylor Small
Department Head, Data Analytics
The Mitre Corporation

Community Service - Government
Ayesha Johnson
Hull & Mechanical Systems Major Area Integration Team OHIO Replacement Program Office

Community Service - Industry
Teena Piccione
Asst. Vice President - Big Data
AT&T

Shonalesia Wilkins-Ellis
Test Program Manager
IBM - North America Testing Services Organization

Corporate Promotion of Education
Kathleen Marwitz
Sr. Manager, Engineering Excellence Abbott Laboratories

Corporate Responsibility
Angela Ivery
Project Management and Planning Operations Rep Staff
Lockheed Martin Corporation

Entrepreneur Leadership
Sharon Madison
CEO, Chairman
Madison Madison International

K-12 Promotion of Education
Karen Barnes
Principal
Baltimore County Public Schools

Lifetime Achievement
Ronnie Lowenstein
President
Lowenstein & Associates

Annie Andrews
Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC)
US Navy

Managerial Leadership - Government
Junilla Applin
Associate Director for Flight Systems
Engineering Directorate

Delene Sedillo
Associate Director, Office of Procurement
NASA Jonson Space Center

Managerial Leadership - Industry
Benita Byrd
Director Global Operations, EHS & Security
Abbott Vascular

LaKindra Francis-Jones
Program Manager- TOWITAS Image Enhancement and Engineering Services
Raytheon Company

New Media/IT Leadership
Shaunnika Allen
Senior Manager and Chief of Staff, Information Technology
The Boeing Company

Outstanding Technical Contribution - Government
Emilie Siochi
Senior Materials Scientist
NASA Langley Research Center

Outstanding Technical Contribution - Industry
Wageesha Senaratne
Research Associate
Corning Incorporated

Xiomara Calderon-Colon
Senior Materials Scientist
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab

Pioneer Award
Suja Chandrasekaran
SVP & Chief Technology Officer
Walmart Stores Inc.

President’s Award
LaDoris “Dot” Harris
Director, Office of Economic Impact & Diversity
U.S. Department of Energy

Professional Achievement - Government
Carletta Long
Deputy Director, Fleet Logistics
Naval Sea System Command

Professional Achievement - Industry
Sharon Jin
Material Technical Specialist
FCA US LLC (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles)

Special Recognition
Anita Hogans Simpson
Leader Member of the Technical Staff
AT&T Inc.

Jia Wang
Lead Inventive Scientist
AT&T Inc.

Soo Mae Chu
Director-Strategic Program Project Management
AT&T Inc.

Jessica Lee
Sr. Manager, Design Quality Assurance
Boston Scientific Corporation

Leah Colvin
Engineering Program Manager
Huntington Ingalls Industries

LaTasha Dandy
Engineering Leadership Development Program Rep
Lockheed Martin Corporation

Linda Taliaferro
Vice President Global Quality
Meritor, Inc.

Padmapriya Vijayasarathi
Delivery Manager
Northrop Grumman Corporation

Sonia Suber
Vice President, Relationship Management IS&T
Sodexo

Sonia Henry
Associate Director
The Aerospace Corporation

Elaine Ward
Technical Director, Enterprise Strategy & Transformation
The Mitre Corporation

Debroah Kennedy
Chief, Capital Planning Division
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Technical Innovation - Industry
Gina Marshall-Johnson
Electrical Engineer
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab

Kaiann Fu
Systems Engineer IV
Northrop Grumman

Lisa Mitchell
Lead Infosec Engineer
The Mitre Corporation

Technologist of the Year
Delia Grenville
Corporate Strategy, Innovation & Platform Engineering, User Experience Architect
Intel Corporation

Visionary Award
Kay Hire
Instructor, Aerospace Engineering Department
United States Naval Academy

About Women of Color STEM Conference
The Women of Color STEM Conference is a yearly conference that provides a unique forum for women in STEM to network, share ideas, discuss current training and professional development challenges, and inspire next generation women in STEM.

About Women of Color Magazine
Women of Color Magazine is published by Career Communications Group (CCG), the leader in celebrating diversity and promoting equal opportunity for minorities and women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). CCG provides leadership in talent management and career development, enabling employers to recruit, retain, and recognize highly qualified employees.