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.

What's Your Passion — Lunch Networking Event

What's Your Passion

Are you secretly longing for something more in your career but just don’t know what it is? Join television host Denise Medved to learn more about how she discovered her passion and turned it into her vocation. Following her inspiring presentation, participants will enjoy dialogue to engage further insights on the featured topic.

Speaker: Denise Medved, President & CEO, The Tiny Kitchen, Inc.

Pre-registration for this event will close on Friday, February 29 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.

March Ready to Work

Ready to Work and Wondering Where to Go

This session includes an encouragement network hour led by Ardell Fleeson followed by a job search skills practicum. Workforce Development Committee Chair Phyllis Kolmus will facilitate.

Ardell Fleeson, Managing Director, Business Development, Human Capital Advisors LLC, will lead a session of tips, observations, realities, good news, and food for thought for the job seeker. Guest speakers with expertise in the job search and human resources areas and those who have recently found work will also address the group. Participants will have the opportunity to share recent challenges and victories.

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.

Speaker:
Ardell Fleeson, Managing Director, Business Development, Human Capital Advisors LLC

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 5:00 to 7:00 pm. 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 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.

Second 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, 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 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!

Ninth Annual Leadership Awards

Save the date!

This annual event honors the women in greater Washington who connect, lead, and succeed in their professional endeavors. Don't miss out on your chance to support women in the the Washington DC area who create success for others. This black tie dinner will celebrate the Finalists.

Nominate a woman you feel is an exemplary role model and leader who has realized tremendous success!

Nominations are accepted through March 14.

Leadership Award categories include:

• Corporate
• Entrepreneur
• Government
• Rising Star
• WIT Champion

Nominees need not be members of Women in Technology. Please click here for the WIT Leadership Award Nomination Form.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Call (703)683-4003.

Click here for a WIT Leadership Awards Call for Nominations Press Release.

Nominations are now open for the Ninth Annual Leadership Awards

Nominations are now open for the Ninth Annual Leadership Awards, to be held on May 15, 2008. Don't miss out on your chance to support the women in Washington, DC who create success for others. Nominations will be accepted through March 14. 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 obvious enthusiasm and a 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-Protégé 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 Protégés.

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 2˝-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

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