Executive Women SIG: 7^th Annual Fall Networking Event

This is the 7^th Annual Fall Networking Event, coordinated by the Membership Committee of ACG (Association for Corporate Growth), National Capital.  The objective for the event is to facilitate networking and introductions among the leaders, members, and sponsors of the following organizations: 

• ACG National Capital
• Women in Technology
• Business Alliance of George Mason University
• Commercial Finance Association
• Washington DC Economic Development Partnership 
• National Association of Corporate Directors
• The Wharton Club 

This is a special event that is being sponsored by WIT Executive Women, and it is open to all WIT members and non-members. This is a very popular networking event with limited attendance. WIT is limited to 40 participants.  The event is often sold out!  Please register early to secure a seat. Pre-registration for this event will close at noon the day before the event. Notice of cancellation is due to the WIT office no later than 48 business hours in advance of the event. All no shows will be charged.

Women Business Owners SIG: Create a Competitive Advantage with Market Research

Guessing — rather than knowing — what your customers are thinking and what your competition is doing can result in costly, preventable mistakes. How can you position your company most favorably against your competition? How can you predict how your target audience will react to new product or service offerings? What messages will resonate with your prospects? Market research can give you a leg up by answering questions such as these, before you spend time and resources unknowingly going down the wrong path. 

Lisa Dezzutti, President & CEO of Market Connections, Inc., will speak on this topic by examining:

• Segmentation, to properly target and communicate with those targets
• Customer satisfaction programs to properly monitor progress
• How market research can guide a sound business development strategy

Please RSVP online at www.womenintechnology.org.  This is a Women Business Owners SIG members-only event. Dinner of your selection is included in the price of admission. Contact Kathy Albarado kalbarado@heliosHR.com and Michele Shallenberg, mshallenberg@envoyIT.com. Pre-registration for this event will close at noon the day before the event. Notice of cancellation is due to the WIT office no later than 48 business hours in advance of the event. All no shows will be charged.

Technology SIG: Identity Management

Identity Management: Mitigating Risks through Advances in Technology

Identity management continues to be one of the hottest technology areas in 2008.  Driven in part by the rise in social networking, online transactions and the frequent data breaches announced by financial institutions, companies and consumers are struggling to protect their data and themselves.

The U.S. Justice Department has cited identity theft as the leading consumer fraud in 2008 and as the fastest-growing crime in America.  Join our experts to discuss how advances in technology can be used to proactively manage your data and protect yourself and your customers from identity theft.

At this event, you’ll learn:

• Strategies to mitigate risk for companies
• Best practices for handling a data breach within your company
• How the major financial services and healthcare companies are protecting your data
• The role of emerging technologies and standards like biometrics and OpenID
• What’s next in identity management

Speakers:

• Denise Tayloe, President and CEO, Privo
• Wendy Weinberger, Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Intersections
• Ric Fleisher, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Honesty Online
• Irma De Obaldia, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP (moderator)

Pre-registration for this event will close at noon the day before the event. Notice of cancellation is due to the WIT office no later than 48 business hours in advance of the event. All no shows will be charged.

WIT.Connect:The Power of Networking — A Speed Networking Event

An article in the September 2007 issue of Harvard Business Review — Women and the Labrynth of Leadership — said that women under-invest in networking and advised us to "shore up social capital... When time is scarce, this social activity is the first thing to go by the wayside.  Organizations can help women appreciate why it deserves more attention.  In particular, women gain from strong and supportive mentoring relationships and connections with powerful networks."

Are you a terrific or terrified networker? Are you familiar with networking, what it is and what it can do for you, professionally and personally? Have you heard the expression, ‘It’s not what you know but who you know’? It’s true! People who understand the importance of developing a network comprised of diverse contacts are in demand Power People! They never have to fear loss of income or business due to lack of sales, finding or losing a job, finding new business or new employees, buying or selling their business or home or even finding the best doctors or daycare centers. Why? Because they just have to turn to their network of contacts and ask!

On September 18, please join Women In Technology and networking expert Sheila Savar of Savar & Associates in this interactive presentation on the tactical approach to successful networking where you’ll learn:

• How to create your positive attitude before going into the venue
• How your personal brand is either contributing or sabotaging your networking success
• Who to approach first, second or not at all
• How to meet, greet and engage in meaningful dialogue – in 2 minutes!
• The art of graceful disengagement
• Networking do’s & don’ts

After hearing Sheila’s presentation, you’ll get to apply your new skills immediately with a Speed Networking Workshop. As you network with your peers, Sheila will be available to lend advice, tips, and guidance to the best way to make your best impression.

Pre-registration for this event will close at noon the day before the event. Notice of cancellation is due to the WIT office no later than 48 business hours in advance of the event. All no shows will be charged.

Women In Technology Education Foundation: 9^th Annual Charity Golf Tournament

Support WITEF’s mission and come join us to "Drive to Succeed" at the 9^th Annual Women in Technology (WIT) Charity Golf Tournament on Tuesday, October, 7, 2008. A 7:30 am Shotgun Start will start the day. All funds raised at this event benefit the Women in Technology Education Foundation (WITEF), a 501 c 3 charitable organization. Through the funds raised for WITEF, WIT’s Girls in Technology Committee organizes and manages programs to encourage girls to "take a swing" at math, science and technology fields. WITEF’s mission is critical to create awareness, support and opportunities to increase the number of girls who will go into technology for their future education and careers, and particularly girls in underserved communities.

To register as a Sponsor, either Corporate or individual, or donate a Silent Auction item, please go to www.girlsintechnology.org.

For more information, please contact:

Ellen Quinn, Chair, 2008 WIT Charity Golf Tournament
Office: (703) 907-4060
Cell: (240) 606-2814
Email: Ellen.Quinn@ngc.com

Cheryl Baugh, Vice Chair, 2008 WIT Charity Golf Tournament
Office: (703) 550-3624
Cell: (703) 868-6859
Email: cbaugh@giba-inc.com

WIT New & Prospective Member Orientation

On Wednesday, October 15th, WIT is holding a New and Prospective Member Reception prior to the October WIT.Connect.

This meeting is targeted for:

• All new members who have joined.
• Other members who have never attended a new member orientation.
• Anyone who is considering joining WIT and would like learn more about our organization. Feel free to bring a friend!

The focus will be on introducing you to the variety of programs, events, and resources WIT has to offer. Leaders from WIT committees will be on hand to detail upcoming events and ways you can get involved. Many members find that committee and special interest group (SIG) membership is an excellent way to meet people and develop their careers.

Feel free to pass this invitation on to any of your friends or co-workers who may also be interested in WIT.

Agenda:

5:00 – 5:30 pm – Networking with WIT SIGs and Committee representatives to learn about their activities and how you can get involved
5:30 – 5:45 pm – Brief presentation on WIT membership benefits and introduction of Board of Directors
5:45 – 6:00 pm – Continued networking
6:00 pm – Break for WIT.Connect (Registration required for WIT.Connect)

There is no charge for attending the orientation, but if you wish to stay for the event afterwards you will need to register for both events. The cost for WIT.Connect is $35 for members, $55 non-members, plus a $10 fee for registrations after noon the day before the event. Please be sure to preregister online before the event so you do not have to pay the additional fee. Preregistration closes at noon the day before.

Diversity Outreach SIG Invites Professionals to the ManTech International Corporation Career Fair on Tuesday, September 9

In partnership with the National Association of Minority Government Contractors (NAMGC), the Diversity Outreach SIG would like to inform you about the ManTech International Corporation Career Fair.

ManTech is a leading provider of innovative, mission-critical technology solutions for national security.

They are seeking experienced professionals in the following areas:

• CM Specialists
• Help Desk Technicians
• Information Security Engineers
• Java Application Developers
• Java Web Developers
• Java Architects
• Network Administrators (Windows)
• Network Engineers
• Oracle Database Engineers
• Project Managers/Program Managers/Directors
• Software Engineers
• System Integrators
• Unix System Administrators
• .Net Developers
  

All positions require US citizenship and/or an active security clearance (Secret to full scope poly). To learn more about our positions please go to www.mantech.com/careers.

WIT Mentor-Protégé Program XXI — GIT Mentors Needed

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. The Girls in Technology Committee is looking for mentors who would be working with the girls during the entire program.

The program consists of five 2½ hour evening sessions over the course of five months. Each session includes networking, a light meal, a short talk on a topic of interest, and an hour of one-on-one mentoring with women from the technology field. The dates for the continuing program are:

Session 2 – September 9, 2008
Session 3 – October 14, 2008
Session 4 – November 11, 2008

The sessions are hosted by technology firms located within the Northern Virginia area. If you would like to volunteer as a mentor, please contact Felicja Syska (fsyska@anystream.com).

Heroines in Technology Call for Volunteers

The March of Dimes and Women in Technology are issuing a call for volunteers interested in serving on a planning committee for Heroines in Technology.

This year's event chairs are Gayle Sweeney of North Highland and Sandy Scearce of Grant Thornton. If you are interested in serving on a planning committee, please email the following information to Tina Solomita at csolomita@marchofdimes.com.

• Committee of Interest (Sponsorship & Table Sales, Auction, Communications or Nominations)
• Name, title and company
• Mailing address, email address and phone number

The planning committees will meet monthly until the event.

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 staff@womenintechnology.org. 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 staff@womenintechnology.org 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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