Workforce Development Committee: Ready to Work

“Ready to Work and Wondering Where To Go."  This session includes a network hour led by Ardell Fleeson followed by a job search skills practicum.  Workforce Development Committee member, Phyllis Kolmus, will facilitate.

Ardell Fleeson will lead a session of tips, observations, realities, good news, and food for thought for the job seeker. Guest speakers, those 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 is closed. Please register onsite.

Workforce Development Committee: Meet the Company at AT&T

WIT's Meet the Company Series introduces WIT members and large technology companies that have significant presence in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. This series is designed to provide WIT members with potential career opportunities and a general understanding of businesses, strategies and cultures.

Please join us for an informative event and hear from:

Sherry Charles, VP Marketing
Kathryn Morrissey, Executive VP
Gail Johnson, Executive Director Government Solutions

AT&T offers the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services.*

In the Federal IT market, AT&T provides a full range of professional services to civilian and defense agencies, including network design, installation and operation, data center operations, business process engineering, systems engineering, software development, data warehousing and data mining, as well as the related project and program management.

With its global headquarters in Dallas, AT&T has more than 300,000 employees worldwide — within its 50-state workforce, 44% of employees are female, and 39% are people of color. AT&T has significantly increased career opportunities for women and people of color through initiatives such as the Leadership Development Program (LDP). Established in 1988, this flagship program is designed for high achievers with outstanding leadership potential and focuses on building a strong and diverse leadership bench across the enterprise through a rotational program. Each year, nearly half of the participants are women and nearly half are people of color.

*In the spirit of the holiday season, Meet the Company will also serve as a collection point for AT&T's annual holiday food drive that benefits "So Others Might Eat". Please bring a non-perishable food item.

Pre-registration for this event will close at noon the day before the event. 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.

WIT Holiday Party

Please join us for our Holiday Party on December 11 at Jammin' Java! This will be a fantastic evening of networking and celebration of the holiday season. We will have several great vendors on site to help you complete your holiday shopping. Join us in celebrating the 10th anniversary of our Mentor Protege program! This is a great opportunity for Mentors and Proteges of years past to catch up. This is sure to be an evening of memories and good cheer!

Pre-registration for this event will close at noon the day before the event. 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.

Women Business Owners SIG: Goal Setting and Achievement

The Women Business Owners SIG will kick off 2009 with a program centered on Goal Setting and Achievement. The meeting will be a roundtable discussion.

This event is open to WBO Members only. See the WBO section of the WIT Web site for details on how to apply for membership. Contacts are Kathy Albarado at kalbarado@heliosHR.com and Michele Shallenberg at mshallenberg@envoyIT.com.

Pre-registration for this event will close at noon the day before the event. 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 24 hours in advance of the event.

Workforce Development Committee: Set Goals for 2009 — And Achieve Them!

On January 8, please join WIT's Workforce Development Committee in an engaging workshop called "Set Goals for 2009 and Achieve Them" led by WIT member and founder of Carnelian Coaching, LLC, Lynne Brodie.

Have you ever set a goal and not achieved it? Join us to learn the top tools and techniques to help you achieve both personal and professional goals through this informative and interactive workshop.

How can you be your own architect of change in 2009? When you join us on January 8, you will engage in exercises and a brief coaching demonstration that will show you:

• How to set goals that are achievable
• What are common barriers and ways to overcome them
• What is coaching, and how it can help you accomplish your goals

Start 2009 off right — join this session to learn the practical tools you will need to get on the right track, and also end it with great success!

Pre-registration for this event will close at noon the day before the event. 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.

WIT New & Prospective Member Orientation

WIT is holding a New and Prospective Member Reception prior to the January WIT.Connect.

This meeting is targeted for:

• All new members who have joined.
• 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 joining a committee or special interest group (SIG) 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 pre-register online before the event so you do not have to pay the additional fee. Pre-registration closes at noon the day before.

January WIT.Connect: The CIO Agenda — Planning for 2009 and Beyond

A new economic climate, a new administration, and a new year all work together to make strategic planning for CIOs an interesting challenge. We've invited CIOs from across a wide range of industries to join us in January to talk about their respective plans for 2009 and beyond.

Confirmed panelists include:

• Ann Speyer, CIO, The Smithsonian Institution
• Yuvinder Kochar, CIO & VP, The Washington Post Company
• Gretchen Tegethoff, CIO, Washington University Hospital
• Sally Gamett, CIO, NISH/Ability One
• Leslie Bauer, CIO, Radio One
• Heidi Byerly, CIO, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Some of the questions we'll be asking include:

• What is the most important strategic initiative in your organization at the moment and why?
• What are the challenges you face in the current economic environment climate?
• What do you see as the most compelling new technologies coming in the near future and how will you use them at your organization?
• What are the three most important factors on which to focus when putting together a strategic IT plan?
• What advice would you offer to women looking to advance their careers to hold similar positions?

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.

Lunch Bunch: Critical Leadership in Times of Organizational Change

We will be facilitating a dialogue with a panel of experts who will share their experiences with organizational change, conflict management and resolution, and how true leaders stand out in trying circumstances.

In advance of attending this session, please take a few minutes to answer a short 4-question survey that will serve to jump-start our discussion around leadership.Complete this survey online.

Special thanks to Achieve-It, LLC for underwriting this event.

Achieve-It, LLC is a recruiting company providing high quality staff to commercial and federal organizations. Specialties include recruiting and coaching mid- to upper-level technology, accounting/finance and sales professionals. Achieve-It has helped dozens of Washington's biggest employers secure the right talent. Learn more at www.achieve-it.net.

Pre-registration for this event will close Friday, January 23 at noon. 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.

Press Release: 2008 Heroines in Technology Awards Raises $198,000 to Support March of Dimes

Women in Technology (WIT) and the March of Dimes announced the recipients of the 2008 Heroines in Technology Awards on Friday, November 14, 2008, at a black-tie gala event that raised $198,000 to support the March of Dimes.

Click here to view the full press release.

Diversity Outreach SIG: Five Ways Diversity Can Save Your Job

During these economic challenges and uncertainty within our society, it becomes very difficult to keep companies focused on diversity and inclusion. But, now is the time to ensure that diversity and inclusion are priorities within your organizations. Diversity and inclusion can help your company sustain during these challenging times and position for the future. Diversity Inc., the leading diversity management publication, has recently released an article on why diversity and inclusion are so important during these times.

If your company/organization does not have a focus on diversity and inclusion, now is a great time to get started. Feel free to reach out to the Diversity Outreach SIG for support and/or resources that can help you on your way!

Five Ways Diversity Can Save Your Job

Strategic Alliances Committee Seeking Members

The Strategic Alliances committee needs your help! We support the WIT strategic goals by forming and maintaining strong relationships with top organizations that map to our strategy. We offer members the opportunity to:

• do strategic versus tactical work;
• engage in external prospect cultivation;
• or manage the internal alliance relationship.

If you would like to meet interesting people and make good connections while helping with this important work, please join our committee!

To join, or for more info, please contact Marguerete Luter MLuter@bellatlantic.net, Mary Tabb Howard MHoward@silosmashers.com, or the WIT office at staff@womenintechnology.org. We're looking forward to working with you!

Leadership Awards Call for Volunteers

The 2009 Leadership Awards mark the 10th anniversary of the prestigious awards program that recognizes women who have demonstrated leadership in the local technology industry. This annual event honors the women in greater Washington who exemplify the WIT values of "Connect. Lead. Succeed." in their professional endeavors. The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 21, at the Hilton McLean.

Women in Technology is now seeking volunteers interested in serving on the planning committee. If you are new to WIT or looking for an opportunity to become involved in the organization, this could be your chance! We are looking for creative, energized individuals who would like to help plan this memorable event, which will mark a decade of recognizing and celebrating women in leadership.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Marcie Cheney mcheney@citizant.com with your contact information and your committee of interest (Marketing, Nominations, Sponsorship, Ticket & Table Sales, or Logistics). Monthly planning meetings will kick off in January. Thanks for your interest!

Be Part of a New and Exciting WIT Project: The WIT "Bunyan Book" Team Needs Volunteers

Women in Technology (WIT) has identified the "Bunyan Book" as an initiative for this year. The Bunyan Book is a project that started to take shape at the WIT Leadership Awards Banquet in May 2008. As she shared the stories of our Leadership Award Winners, Maureen Bunyan, the event's MC, became increasingly inspired and interested in the women being honored. She commented, "There are so many wonderful stories here; you should write a book. And I'll write the foreword." Well, the organization took her comment seriously and decided to explore this possibility.

This coming May marks WIT's 10th Leadership Awards ceremony and the 15th anniversary of WIT — so the timing couldn't be better. The idea is to interview and profile every winner of the past WIT Leadership Awards, from 1999 to 2009. Our goals are to:

• Inspire other women and girls with these stories of leadership
• Continue to honor the women WIT has recognized over the years with the WIT Leadership Awards
• Raise awareness for WIT and elevate the WIT brand

We are currently recruiting volunteers to help with this exciting project. We need volunteers who can help with:

• Interviewing: Be part of the team that captures these women's stories.
• Writing: Help write and polish the interviews, emphasizing "flow" and reflecting identified themes.
• Editing: Identify and guide the overall structure and theme; edit content for grammar, punctuation, and unity.
• Publishing: Help research publishing options, recommend the best option for WIT, and work with the publisher.
• Marketing/Publicity: Develop a marketing plan, create buzz, schedule events, and help spread the word about the book; work on book cover ideas.
• Sales/Distribution: Determine how WIT will bring the book to market — coordinate orders and distribution to get the book in the hands of readers.

Please contact Charlotte Pelliccia charlotte@pelliccia.biz or Marguerete Luter mluter@bellatlantic.net to learn more about this exciting project and how you can play an important role in bringing it to fruition.

Girls in Technology Call for Volunteers

The GIT Committee is supporting a number of community and school-based programs that help girls of all age groups learn from the successes of women professionals and business owners in the technology industry.

We are expanding these programs and are looking for volunteers for the following roles:

• committee members (program planning)
• event planner/coordinator
• event registration hostess
• mentors and speakers to join our group

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please visit our Web site at www.girlsintechnology.org.

New WIT.Word Column: Sponsors in the Spotlight

Are you a WIT Sponsor? Do you have news you would 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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