February Ready to Work: Presenting a Professional Image

Workforce Development Committee Presents: A Ready to Work Special Edition

If you asked your manager to describe your look, what would she say?

Do your interviewers notice your expertise, or do they notice your outfit?

Join us for an informative evening on presenting a professional image.

Open to WIT Members and Non-Members!

Speakers:

Maria Salter, an image consultant and financial planner, will lead this eye-opening seminar on aligning your image with your KSA — Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude.

Ouri Kandelo, founder of ZIN Hair and Colour, will give generously of his time and expertise again this year to give one of our WIT members a professional makeover.

Tina Allen will share information about becoming an independent consultant selling a business clothing line. She will help those interested to explore opportunities to stretch the budget and buy time (along with buying clothes!) during transition and beyond.

Pre-registration for this event will close at noon the day before. Onsite registration will be accepted at the event on a space-available basis. Notice of cancellation must be received by the WIT office no later than 48 hours in advance of the event. All no shows will be charged.

Executive Women's SIG – Tech at the Top—a Day with Executive Women for Girls In Technology (GIT), a Panel and Networking Event

The panel members will share their experiences from a recent one-day workplace shadowing program for GIT girls paired with Executive Women’s SIG members or their associates.  The objectives of the Shadowing Event were to

• Enable GIT girls to experience what a technology career might entail at higher levels.
• Provide a special experience for young women who might not otherwise be exposed to technology-related leadership issues.
• Enable GIT girls to understand that careers in technology often involve the need to understand and resolve social, business, and financial concerns as well as technology.

Our Executive Women's (EW) SIG and GIT pairs will spend a few minutes to share their “Shadowing Day” experiences with us. The discussion will be followed by a networking event. Please join the EW SIG for an evening of stimulating discussion and networking. A variety of interesting appetizers and beverages will be provided.

WIT’s most popular EW SIG events have focused on networking and provide attendees with a chance to meet with new and old business contacts in informal settings.

Pre-registration for this event will close on Tuesday, February 5, at 5:00 pm. Onsite registration will be accepted at the event for an additional $10 fee. Notice of cancellation must be received by the WIT office no later than 48 hours in advance of the event. All no shows will be charged.

Writing a Powerful Résumé

What is considered an effective and powerful résumé? One that attracts the attention of hiring authorities, showcases your relevant work background, demonstrates you have the right qualifications for the job, and illustrates how you can benefit an organization.

Speaker:Marshall Brown, PCC, President, Marshall Brown & Associates

Please bring two to three copies of a current résumé with you.

Pre-registration for this event will close on Tuesday, February 5, at 5:00 pm. Onsite registration will be accepted at the event for an additional $10 fee. Notice of cancellation must be received by the WIT office no later than 48 hours in advance of the event. All no shows will be charged. Log in to register online.

Leading through Strategic Marketing — Marketing Leaders Share Their Experiences Guiding Organizations to Success

Marketing Leaders Share Their Experiences Guiding Organizations to Success

Market-driven companies are 31% more profitable, twice as fast to bring products to market, twice as likely to lead. They also enjoy 20% higher customer satisfaction rates, according to a 2007 survey by strategic market research firm Pragmatic Marketing.

Join us on Wednesday, February 13, for an interactive panel discussion featuring the D.C. area’s most distinguished marketing leaders. Hear the secrets to success in guiding organizations through an outside-in, market-driven perspective.

Our panelists will

• Provide high-level overview of strategic marketing and the challenges organizations face in moving to a mature approach to marketing leadership.
• Share real-life case examples and stories “from the trenches” about leading their companies and organizations through strategic marketing.
• Describe potential risks and pitfalls that marketers confront, and strategies for maintaining focus and pursuing strategic marketing priorities.

Speakers:
Gail Rissler, Executive Vice-President and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), McDonald Bradley
Maureen Stevens, Director of Public Relations, Athena Technologies
Patricia Mejia (Moderator), Vice-President of Marketing, Siteworx, Inc.
Patricia McClung, Vice-President, Customer Outreach and Offerings Deployment, Freddie Mac

Pre-registration for this event will close on Monday, February 9, at 3:00 pm. Notice of cancellation must be received by the WIT office no later than 48 hours in advance of the event. All no shows will be charged.

February WIT.Connect: CIOs & CTOs — Behind the Scenes

CIOs & CTOs — Behind the Scenes

Have you ever wondered what CIO/CTOs are really thinking?

Please join us for the February WIT.Connect as we get the opportunity to ask former government CIO/CTOs the questions you’ve always wanted to have answered.

The panelists will have the opportunity to address the following topics:

• What were the CIO/CTOs really thinking during marketing presentations from our companies?
• What are CIO/CTOs looking for in a presentation? What really differentiates companies and solutions from the pack?
• What technologies will the government really buy in the next two years (go beyond FedSources and Input information into what will these agencies be able to afford and what will take priority)?
• What do you need to do to be a CIO/CTO? How much of it is knowledge vs. politics? Do you have to pay your dues?
• What are the toughest political and technical crises the CIO/CTOs dealt with in office? How did they handle them? What was happening behind the scenes?
• What should women know about when presenting to CIO/CTOs? Do the CIO/CTOs have recommendations for improving approach and communication? How can women interact socially with CIO/CTOs to build relationships? In addition to WIT, what are good networking organizations or events? How do you gain access?

The panel will include both women and men across civilian, DoD, and Intel agencies.

Speakers:
Kim Nelson, former CIO EPA
Gloria Parker, former CIO HUD
Debra Stouffer, former CTO EPA, former Deputy CIO HUD
Mark Day, former CTO EPA

Pre-registration for this event will close at noon the day before. Onsite registration will be accepted at the event for an additional $10 fee. Notice of cancellation must be received by the WIT office no later than 48 hours in advance of the event. All no shows will be charged.

Lunch Bunch — Brain Fitness: Use It and Improve It

Business leaders’ success depends on brain fitness — their ability to reason, remember, learn, plan, and adapt. Harvard Business Review reports ". . . there’s an epidemic menacing more and more organizations. . . .talented leaders are turning into underachievers. Overwhelmed by floods of data and exploding demands on their time, they’re losing their ability to solve problems. . . their creativity is shriveling; their mistakes, multiplying.”

Learn how you can get your brain in shape and promote the growth of new brain cells and neural networks so you can PERFORM AT YOUR PEAK.

This presentation will:

• Explain: Why brain fitness?
• Describe new neuroscience findings.
• Introduce the importance of SAAGE-based exercises.
• Identify steps to protect and enhance your mental capacities.

Speaker: James Luce, COO, Anova Senior Kare

Pre-registration for this event will close on Friday, February 22, at 3:00 pm. Onsite registration will be accepted at the event for an additional $10 fee. Notice of cancellation must be received by the WIT office no later than 48 hours in advance of the event. All no shows will be charged.

Women Business Owners: Roundtable Discussion

A Members Only event for the Women Business Owners’ SIG will be held on Wednesday, March 12^th, at Le Madeleine in Tysons Corner from 5 to 7P.M. This event will be a Roundtable Discussion on topics of interest for the group and is an opportunity for the group to learn from one another’s experience! The Roundtable Discussion is a terrific resource for the WBO members, no matter what stage of business ownership, and is a great opportunity to advise, strategize, and learn together.

Pre-registration for this event will close on Tuesday, March 11, at noon. Onsite registration will be accepted at the event for an additional $10 fee. Notice of cancellation must be received by the WIT office no later than 48 hours in advance of the event. All no shows will be charged. Log in to register online.

2nd Annual Women Business Owners’ Conference

Save the date!

Announcing the WBO event of the year! This members-only conference will be held on Friday, April 11^th, and is designed to deliver information targeted to the interests of successful women entrepreneurs!

Held at the beautiful Tower Club in Tysons Corner, this afternoon event (2:00–6:30) will be a great opportunity to learn and network with one another and our invited guest speakers. Watch for additional event details at www.womenintechnology.org and in the WIT.Wire!

Log in to register online.

Nominations are now open for the 9^th Annual Leadership Awards

Nominations are now open for the 9th Annual Leadership Awards, to be held on May 15, 2008. This annual event honors women in greater Washington who connect, lead, and succeed in their professional endeavors. Make a nomination online today!

The annual WIT Leadership Awards gala recognizes women who have demonstrated leadership in the local technology industry. We are currently recruiting committee members to help plan the 2008 event. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Marcie Cheney at mcheney@citizant.com.

Women in Technology Education Foundation (WITEF) Chair
Volunteer Position Announcement

The WITEF Chair will be an accomplished foundation leader with a passion for technology and the drive to educate and encourage girls to excel in science and technology. The candidate will also have an obvious enthusiasm and high degree of motivation for taking the fundraising efforts of the foundation to the next level as the senior executive. The candidate will have proven experience and skills in fundraising, communications, marketing, and financial management. As a dynamic communicator both internally and externally, the candidate must demonstrate a keen ability to articulate a vision for the Foundation to a diverse array of audiences and a track record of influencing others to action. Prior success in fundraising for major gifts, corporate sponsors, capital campaigns, or large foundation grants is preferred. An understanding of business principles applied to a nonprofit organization, particularly a background of revenue enhancement and good budget management is also necessary.

Reports to: WITEF Board of Directors and WIT President

Major responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the Foundation in accordance with the Bylaws of the organization including presiding over the Board of Directors.
• Establish and maintain the Foundation mission, vision, and target funding profile.
• Set financial targets for fundraising and devise plans to achieve them.
• Solicit and/or develop programs that educate and encourage girls in technology fields.
• Develop new funding opportunities and/or income-generating initiatives.
• Serve as primary spokesperson for the Foundation; design and implement marketing and PR programs that enhance fundraising efforts.
• Develop and operate within an annual budget; ensure that all funds of the Foundation are appropriately safeguarded and administered. Arrange for an independent annual audit.
• Assure the fiscal solvency of the Foundation through earned income or other funding as appropriate, including but not limited to grants, donations, and other sources.
• Identify and attract appropriate candidates for the WITEF Board; actively participate in succession planning.
• Demonstrate knowledge of issues of diversity and their effect in the workplace.

Contact staff@womenintechnology.org to express interest or for more information.

GIT Call for Mentors — Volunteers

The WIT Mentor-Prot้g้ program is the 21^st century place for women who want dynamic personal growth and a platform for professional success. Working women aspire to be enriched through mentoring and networking in this unparalleled program in the Washington DC area. The program’s mission is to encourage dynamic personal and career growth for women in technology through a series of guided quality discussions in a community with other professional women.

Once again, WIT is opening this program to a small number of rising 11^th and 12^th grade girls to be mentored alongside the professional Prot้g้s.

Girls in Technology (GIT) Committee is looking for Mentors who would be working with the girls during the entire program.

The program consists of five 2ฝ hour evening sessions over the course of five months, from 6:00–8:30 pm. Each session includes networking, a light meal, a short talk on a topic of interest, and an hour of one-on-one mentoring with a woman from the technology field. Here are the dates for the upcoming program:

Orientation: January 8, 2008
Session 1 – February 12, 2008
Session 2 – March 11, 2008
Session 3 – April 8, 2008
Session 4 – May 13, 2008

The sessions are hosted by technology firms located within the Northern Virginia area. Please contact Marla Ozarowski (marlaoz@aol.com) or Felicja Syska (fsyska@anystream.com) if you would like to become Mentor/Volunteer for this exciting program.

New WIT.Word Column: Sponsors in the Spotlight

Are you a WIT Sponsor? Do you have news you'd like to share with other WIT Members? Send text for consideration (75 – 100 words max) to joannelozarglenn@verizon.net. WIT reserves the right to edit submissions for length and in accordance with WIT in-house editorial style.

Call for WIT.Word Volunteers!
 
WIT.Word needs you!  Volunteers are needed to be reporters, writers, and graphic web designers! Volunteers for these positions should be self-starters who are able to adhere to deadlines. Workload would generally be light depending on how many volunteers respond to our call for help.  
 
We welcome reporters/writers with previous experience, as well
as those willing to learn. General assignments that might be assigned to reporters/writers include profiles of executive women in technology, interviews with technology leaders, coverage of WIT events, and feature articles. Graphic web designers need to have a working knowledge of Dreamweaver or equivalent HTML editing package and will assist in the layout and design of the WIT.Word issues. (Template already exists.)
 
If you're interested in being a volunteer for WIT.Word please contact
Le-Marie V.J. Thompson or call 301-452-2258.

Share a Little WIT.Wisdom and Enter to Win!

What clients, connections, contracts, or career advancements have you gained from your involvement in WIT?

Share a story, anecdote, or just a few thoughts about how your participation in WIT has been of value to your business, career, company, or philanthropy goals by sending a brief email to Women in Technology (put WIT.Wisdom in the header), or filling out a WIT Testimonial Card at one of our monthly programs.

We will read one of the submitted stories at an upcoming WIT.Connect. The author will receive a free certificate redeemable for an upcoming WIT program.

Help us voice the benefit of our organization — share your WIT experience, and we'll share in celebrating your success!

Members on the Move — WIT.Word

Changed jobs? Received a promotion? Know someone who deserves recognition for a recent career move? Let your fellow WIT members know about it! Send a brief description to Joanne Lozar Glenn for inclusion in the “Members on the Move” column in the next WIT.Word newsletter.

Add WIT to Your Address Book

Don't miss an issue of WIT.Wire! Make sure to add staff@womenintechnology.org to your email address book to ensure that all WIT emails come right to your inbox. If you do not wish to receive future emails from WIT, respond to this message with Unsubscribe in the subject line. Your request will be processed within 10 days after receiving the request. To subscribe to WIT emails, respond to this message with Subscribe in the subject line.