Corporate Leadership Award Winner
Linda Keene Solomon, Principal, Deloitte Consulting

Linda Keene Solomon is a Principal at Deloitte Consulting, the consulting arm of Deloitte & Touche.  She provides technology and management consulting services to the U.S. Federal Government.  In her role as Account Partner for the Department of Homeland Security, Linda has been directly responsible for delivering a number of security-related technology solutions to the Department.  Ms. Solomon is also the Managing Director for office operations, including human resources, of Deloitte’s Federal Practice.

Before joining the Federal Practice, Ms. Solomon worked with major Manufacturing and Energy companies around the world, serving clients such as ExxonMobil, Shell, Monsanto, Honeywell, and General Motors.  In this capacity, she developed a strong reputation for managing large (e.g. multimillion dollar), complex, transformation programs involving the implementation of technology.  Today, she is able to bring this commercial, best practice experience to her Federal clients.  Outside of serving her clients, Linda plays a very active role in developing staff within Deloitte and participating as a board member on several community nonprofit boards.  She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Computer Mathematics and a MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Entrepreneur Leadership Award Winner
Sandra K. Richardson, Co-founder and COO of Métier, Ltd.

Sandra Richardson is Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Métier, a Washington, DC based software company that delivers patent-pending project portfolio management.  Ms. Richardson always knew she wanted to start her own company.  She planned her career around this goal, honing her business, operations and leadership skills along the way.  Ms. Richardson held executive-level positions within the legal community at the beginning of her career.  She added technology experience later by leading large software implementations and consulting engagements. 

Ms. Richardson is an avid supporter of the D.C. metro community and participates in many local organizations.  As an entrepreneur, Ms. Richardson has been profiled as a “Top Techie to Watch,” as one of the metro areas “Best Bosses,” and nominated for the “Entrepreneurial Excellence Award” from Working Woman magazine.  Ms. Richardson has earned awards at the Emerging Business Forum and has been profiled in articles in the Washington Post, Washington Techway magazine and the Washington Business Journal. 

Government Leadership Award Winner

Linda L. Jacksta, Director, Systems Engineering, Office of Information & Technology, United States Customs Service

Linda Jacksta was named the Director, Systems Engineering in 2002.  In this capacity, she supports the Chief Information Officer and the Executive Director, Infrastructure Services, in leading and directing an organization of 100+ technical and professional staff.  Mrs. Jacksta’s organization provides the engineering and integration services for all Customs mission critical systems.  These systems are responsible for collecting roughly $20 billion annually in revenue and the processing of more than 450 million persons entering the United States

Mrs. Jacksta has received the prestigious Government Technology Leadership Award from Government Executive Magazine for innovative technology practices.  She was also nominated as a “Women in Technology” finalist in 2003.  In 2001, Mrs. Jacksta was selected for the Senior Executive Fellows Program at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University and is a graduate of the Executive Potential Program.

Rising Star Award Winner
Amy Bielski, Vice President – Web & Technology Solutions Group, Social & Health Services Division of ORC Macro

Amy Bielski brings a strong background in graphic design, business, and leadership to the SHS Division of ORC Macro. In 2000, Ms. Bielski, was the youngest person ever promoted to Vice President. In her role as Vice President, Amy oversees the efforts of 35 developers, programmers, writers, designers and marketers who support over 60 web sites and applications. Some of her past projects included Girl Power! (http://www.girlpower.gov), healthfinder TM (http://www.healthfinder.gov), Surgeon General’s Web site (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov), and the Adopt-A-Minefield web site. Ms. Bielski was instrumental in expanding the role of the web-based services at SHS, making the company a strong contender in this previously unexplored area of the business. 

Ms. Bielski enjoys learning and is passionate about the importance of training and mentoring, especially in the field of technology. In addition to providing the creative and technical direction for the company’s web and technology solutions group, and raising two girls, Amy has also completed her Executive MBA from Loyola. She has shared this learning in a 5-week project management course that teaches at night. In addition, Ms. Bielski has recently opened her own company, Ripple Effect Communications, Inc. (http://www.reffect.net), that focuses on marketing, communications and the use of new media for the Federal Government.

WIT Champion Award Winner

Ellen Quinn, Performance Assurance Manager, Northrop Grumman Information Technology

Ellen Quinn has been a member of WIT since 2001.  She currently is a member of the Advocacy, Executive Women’s, and IT SIGs, Government Outreach, and GIT.  Ellen is the Chair of the Lunch Bunch Committee.  In addition, Ellen has been very active with the March of Dimes, serving the last two years as a “buddy” for Heroines in Technology awards finalist.

Ellen currently is the Performance Assurance manager for a large Government project in the Federal Enterprise Solutions Business Unit at Northrop Grumman Information Technology.  She has been with the company for over 10 years.  Her areas of expertise are quality and process improvement; CMMI and Six Sigma. 

WIT President’s Award

Debbie Thacker, Executive Vice President, BTL Services, Inc.

During the early days of cellular and PCS communications, Debbie Thacker helped launch service in mid-town Manhattan by acquiring rooftop access rights with building owners.  As an entrepreneur, she provided national real estate services to the telecommunications industry including a brief period of employment as Director of National Accounts for XO Communications.

She has published 2 articles in the past year addressing telecommunications compliance issues related to Landlord risk and performed studies and analyses to ensure property safety.  Currently she is Executive Vice President at BTL Services, Inc. a build to suit developer in Sterling, VA.

WIT Founder’s Award

Deanne Inman, Director, Deloitte

Deanne Inman is a Director, with Deloitte & Touche’s Enterprise Risk Services Group in McLean VA.  Deanne has been involved in the information technology industry for over 15 years and is active in Deloitte & Touche’s Womens Initiative, which focuses on the advancement and retention of women.