Women in Technology - WIT Wire
March 2, 2009
3-4-09 Diversity Outreach SIG and Executive Women SIG: Globalization is Reality — Are You Ready?
3-11-09 Women Business Owners SIG: Goal Setting and Achievement
3-19-09 March WIT.Connect: RFID — After the Hype: RFID at Work
3-23-09 Workforce Development Committee: Stand Out in the Crowd with a Powerful, Branded Resume
3-24-09

March Lunch Bunch: Leadership Through Business Etiquette

3-24-09 Sales & Marketing SIG: Understanding New Federal Government Priorities: Effective IT Marketing Strategies in the New Administration
4-16-09 April WIT.Connect: Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Present and Future Panel
4-17-09 Women Business Owners SIG: Event of the Year — Members-Only Conference

To register for events, visit www.womenintechnology.org and log in with your user name and password. Once logged in, click on the RSVP Now link by the event for which you wish to register.

If you are not a current member of WITSM, please create a user name and password as a Non-Member Guest to register for events.

Inclement Weather Policy

WIT will follow the federal government's leave policy in canceling or rescheduling a scheduled event due to inclement weather.

Liberal Leave in Effect
Events will not be cancelled or rescheduled unless the speakers are unable to attend.

Federal Government Closed
Events will be cancelled or rescheduled if the federal government is closed.

Pre-registration for events will close at noon the day before the events. Onsite registration will be accepted at events on a space-available basis. Notice of cancellation for refund must be received by the WIT office no later than 24 hours in advance of events.

* All events are subject to cancellation. Registration and cancellation policies are posted in the calendar listing on the Web site.

Events

Diversity Outreach SIG and Executive Women SIG: Globalization is Reality — Are You Ready?

Date 3-4-09
Time

5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Location AT&T Government Solutions
1900 Gallows Road
Vienna, VA 22182
Cost Members: $15
Non-Members: $35

According to the Organization for International Investment, there are more than 300,000 people employed by U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies in the Washington, D.C. area. Employees must learn how to succeed in widely different cultures with varying customs.

The WIT Diversity Outreach and Executive Women SIGs are presenting a panel that will discuss the challenges and rewards of working in a globally diverse environment. Panelists represent both large and small companies working in the international marketplace.

The panel will address globalization from several perspectives: business, cultural, and personal. The business perspective addresses how a company or organization has been impacted by the changes brought about by globalization and how it is responding to the impacts by successfully navigating the challenges and capitalizing on the benefits of a global organization with diverse multicultural, ethnic, and international teams. Taking the cultural perspective, our panel will share their experiences in dealing with different business practices across cultures, which set the stage for potential for culture conflicts and offer creative opportunities for overcoming them. Our panelists will also share their global business experiences from personal perspectives and their thoughts about women in the global market in leadership roles.

Panelists include:

  • Andrew Edison, Vice President of Global Operations Planning, AT&T
  • Kelly Harman, President and Owner, Zephyr Strategy, Inc.
  • Julie Lenzer Kirk, President & CEO, Path Forward International
  • Geetha Panda, Worldwide Head of Service Delivery Excellence, Hewlett Packard
  • Sarita Rao, Vice President of IBM Global Markets, AT&T

    Moderator: Toni Townes-Whitley, V.P. & General Manager, Global Industries — North America, at Unisys. Toni is also the President-Elect of WIT for the next program year.

AT&T employees please contact Elizabeth B. McHugh — email:emchugh@att.com, office: 703-251-9836, cell: 703-626-8518 — to register for this event.

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Women Business Owners SIG: Goal Setting and Achievement

Date 3-11-09
Time

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Location

La Madeleine
1915-C Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22102

Cost

Members: $20
Onsite: additional $10

This is a WBO members only event.

Due to the overwhelming response to the January meeting on goal setting, we have elected to continue this discussion and to conduct an "Accountability Check" to track progress and offer support for the achievement of goals expressed by the members. The WBO group has proven to be a terrific source of support and resources for its members. Please join us!

You may register online at www.womenintechnology.org. All WBO meetings are members only. See the WBO section of the WIT Web site for details on how to apply for membership. For more information, contact Kathy Albarado at kalbarado@heliosHR.com or Michele Shallenberg at mshallenberg@envoyIT.com.

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March WIT.Connect: RFID — After the Hype: RFID at Work

Date 3-19-09
Time

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location

Hilton McLean
7920 Jones Branch Drive
McLean VA 22102

Cost

Members: $35
Non-Members: $55
Onsite: additional $10

In 2003 and 2004, RFID appeared on nearly every headline as the technology of the day. Soon after, there was a hype of excitement about RFID that seemed to outpace the scope of implementations. Fast forward six years to today and learn from government and industry leaders about how RFID is really at work and at play. Understand the realities of using technology to improve business processes and the keys to this success.

Panelists include:

  • Kathy M. Smith, Special Assistant, End-to-End Customer Support, Office of the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
  • Liz Churchill, System Architect, eProvenance
  • Daniel W. Caprio, Jr., President & CEO, DC Strategies

Moderator: Mary Ann Wagner, Founder and President, XIO Strategies, Inc.

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Workforce Development Committee: Stand Out in the Crowd with a Powerful Branded Resume

Date 3-23-09
Time

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Location

AT&T Government Solutions
1900 Gallows Road
Vienna, VA 22182

Cost

Members: $25
Non-Members: $45

In today's highly competitive job market, your resume needs to be powerful and stand out from the competition. It needs to attract the attention of hiring authorities, showcase your relevant work background and demonstrate that you have the right qualifications for the job. Crafting a resume that describes you and your professionalism crisply but with authenticity and texture is an art which can be learned. Isn't now your time to claim and manage your professional presence?

In this two hour highly interactive workshop, you will:

  • Leanr how to identify key work expertise and experiences and how to bundle them together to develop a resume projecting your unique professional brand.
  • Explore your unique professional presence and find the words and phrases to describe yourself fully.
  • Craft an authentic “profile” for your resume that reflects how you want to be seen by your target audience.

Come prepared with thoughtful answers to four or more of the following questions:

  • What is unique about you?
  • What are you known for?
  • What would your colleagues or customers say is your greatest strength?
  • What would your colleagues or customers say is your most noteworthy personal trait?
  • What do you value most about yourself and your uniqueness?
  • What is the highest compliment you've received professionally?
  • What is your professional philosophy?

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March Lunch Bunch: Leadership Through Business Etiquette

Date 3-24-09
Time

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location Maggiano's Restaurant
2001 International Drive
McLean, VA 22102
Cost

Members: $25
Non-Members: $45
Onsite: additional $10

Join us for an exciting presentation led by Anna Post, who carries on the tradition of her great-great grandmother, Emily Post, and The Emily Post Institute.

As all successful women know, it's not enough to work hard: we have to work smart. We need to use all tools at hand to build and maintain strong relationships. Having good business etiquette skills only serves to increase your success. Anna Post will talk about how to use the principles of etiquette — consideration, respect, and honesty — to enhance business relationships. With an emphasis on incorporating these principles into everyday work and management styles, Anna will address business social situations, networking, and communication etiquette.

Anna will autograph books. Book supply is limited.

Special thanks to Basis and PR Works, LLC, for underwriting this event. Basis is a brand consultancy, which provides professional branding expertise to help entrepreneurs, mission-based non-profits, and cultural entities establish and build their brand identity. PR Works, LLC. is a boutique pubic relations shop specializing in publicity for small businesses and offering extensive media contacts and strategic relationships.

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Sales & Marketing SIG: Understanding New Federal Government Priorities: Effective IT Marketing Strategies in the New Administration

Date 3-24-09
Time

5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Location Tysons Corner Marriott
8028 Leesburg Pike
Vienna, VA 22182
Cost

Members: $35
Non-Members: $45
Onsite: additional $10

The government market is one of the largest and steadily growing vertical industries worldwide for technology spending, and with a $2.3 billion requested increase in technology investments from 2008 to 2009, the U.S. government market remains a high-value industry that is typically less volatile than many other IT industry markets. Although most agencies are currently under a continuing resolution for funding in 2009, three agencies received funding — DoD, Department of Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs, which combined make up over $40 billion of funded IT programs, or 58 percent of the requested 2009 budget.

Additionally, the U.S. federal government will spend heavily on economic stimulus packages that will have varying IT implications across government. Government will be challenged in its new role of managing financial institutions and related "bail-out" programs, which require new skills, training, and technology. This WIT panel, moderated by Adelaide O'Brien, research manager at IDC Government Insights, will include government representatives from agencies most affected by the economic stimulus proposal as well as senior industry leaders representing a cross-section of government IT partners. Attendees will learn of this administration's expectations regarding information technology (IT) investments — investments that will be heavily scrutinized for their ability to reduce operating costs and to effectively meet new expectations for increased government support systems for citizens, and program effectiveness (particularly economic stimulus).

Representatives from the Department of Homeland Security and DISA are already scheduled to attend.

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April WIT.Connect: Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Present and Future Panel

Date 4-16-09
Time

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
7920 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22102
Cost

Members: $35
Non-Member: $55
Onsite: additional $10

For the last couple of years, Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) has been one of the lead news stories in the IT industry. Vendors, consultants, and industry analysts declared SOA as the next great wave in IT systems development. But recently a growing choir of expert voices is debating the question, "Is SOA dead?" So, what is the current status of SOA development efforts? Is there a future for SOA?

Internationally known SOA thought leader David Linthicum will moderate a panel of experts as they explore the issues surrounding SOA: present and future. The panelists will roll-up their sleeves and attempt to address the SOA concerns facing the industry:

  • Have the SOA principles been melted into the pot with other systems architectures (client server, Web based, etc.)?
  • Has SOA become an enabler for your Enterprise Architecture?
  • What about cloud computing?
  • How does it fit into or leverage the SOA design principles?

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Women Business Owners SIG: Event of the Year — Members-Only Conference

Date 4-17-09
Time

2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Location

The Tower Club
8000 Towers Crescent Drive
17th Floor
Vienna, VA 22182

Cost

Members: $65
Onsite: additional $15

This is a WBO members only event.

Announcing the WBO event of the year! This members-only conference will 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.

 

Speakers:

  • Liz Cullen, Executive Director, Women Presidents' Educational Organization
  • Sally Strackbein, President, Defining Story

Panelists include:

  • Kelly Harman, Zephyr Strategy — Marketing on a shoestring
  • Kathryn Harris, The Resolution Law Group — Legal advice on corporate structure and basic agreements for your business
  • Kathy Albarado, Helios HR — Hiring, employing and engaging employees

Liz Cullen, Executive Director of the WPEO, will discuss WBE Certification: Providing Access to the Corporate Supply Chain. She will introduce WPEO-DC, the certification services they provide and the opportunities women business owners have to leverage the certification in order to turn contacts into contracts. Featured speaker Sally Strackbein, President of Defining Story, will demonstrate how to create a story as strategic bragging. The afternoon panel will discuss how to leverage those must-have tools in your tool kit as you build your business.

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Announcements

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. Since 2001, March of Dimes and Women in Technology have partnered to present Heroines in Technology, a black-tie gala to recognize and honor women in the field of technology for their dedication to community service. Heroines in Technology will take place on Friday, November 13, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Reston in Reston Town Center. This event includes a cocktail reception, dinner, live band, dancing and fabulous silent and live auctions. Proceeds from Heroines in Technology benefit the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

This year's planning committee kick-off meeting will be held March 25 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Grant Thornton, 2010 Corporate Ridge, Suite 400, McLean, VA 22102.

If you are interested in serving on the planning committee, please plan to attend and email the following information to Tina Solomita at csolomita@marchofdimes.com.

Include:

  • Name, title and company
  • Mailing address, email address, and phone number
  • Area of Interest: Sponsorship & Table Sales, Auction, Communications, or Nominations — it is not required that you decide in advance

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Call For Leadership Nominations

Women in Technology is pleased to invite nominations for members to serve as WIT leadership. Positions are available beginning immediately, as well as for the June 2009 fiscal year. The term of office varies from one to two years depending on the position. An open nomination procedure is held to generate the best pool of qualified candidates. You may self nominate or forward this on to other WIT members to nominate themselves for any of the open positions. A second call for nominations for Committee and SIG Chair and Vice-Chair positions opening in June will follow.

Leadership Positions Open for Nominations:

  • Board of Directors — Treasurer
  • Board of Directors — Membership Committee Chair
  • Board of Directors — Sponsorship Committee Chair
  • Board Member at Large — Women In Government
  • Board Member at Large — Special Interest Group (SIG) Liaison
  • Girls in Technology Vice Chair
  • Strategic Alliances Vice Chair
  • Heroines in Technology Chair
  • Advocacy Committee Chair
  • Advocacy Committee Vice Chair

Qualifications Desired:
To empower WIT and its members to thrive and grow, leadership candidates should have the following capabilities:

  • A demonstrated commitment to Women in Technology
  • The ability to devote the necessary time and energy to the position
  • Demonstrated leadership skills
  • Collaborative and group skills
  • Communication skills

Process:

If you would like to apply for a leadership position, please review the in-depth job descriptions at www.womenintechnology.org. Submit your completed application with your resume to staff@womenintechnology.org.

You can find the application at the WIT Website: www.womenintechnology.org/files/LeadershipApplication.doc

Please indicate "Nomination for _______ Position" in the subject line.

If you have questions about any of the positions listed above or would like to be considered for other leadership roles in the organization, please contact one of these members of the Nominating Committee:

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Call for Nominations for the 10th Annual Women in Technology Leadership Awards

Women in Technology (WIT) has announced the call for nominations for the 10th Annual Women in Technology Leadership Awards. The awards program honors leading female professionals working in the greater Washington D.C. Metropolitan area who have exemplified superior work in the technology industry over the previous year. Nominations are now open and will be accepted until March 13, 2009.

This year's theme is "Changing the Face of Technology" and individuals will be awarded in the following five award categories:

  • Corporate Leadership
  • Entrepreneur Leadership
  • Government Leadership
  • Women in Technology Champion
  • Rising Star

Additionally, the 2009 Awards will include the Company Leadership Champion Award, which recognizes member companies who have engaged in a 15 month evaluation process focused on the development and advancement of women into leadership positions.

Members and non-members are eligible for nomination and the winners will be announced on May 21, 2009, at the Hilton McLean in McLean, VA. For more information on the awards, including submission guidelines and sponsor details, visit www.womenintechnology.org.

Sponsorship and underwiting opportunities are available. For information on becoming an underwriter contact Marcie Cheney at (703) 667-9420 Ext. 140 or email mcheney@citizant.com.

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The Women's Center's 23rd Annual Leadership Conference

Date 3-14-09
Time

8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location

Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
7920 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22102

Cost

WIT Members: $150
Non-Member registration: $175

Mark your calendar for the region's most exciting one-day conference — The Women's Center's 23rd Annual Leadership Conference on March 14 at the McLean Hilton, Tysons Corner. This year's conference includes leaders from the business, political, media and diplomatic worlds. The day promises to be educational and inspirational and a great opportunity to network with no travel or hotel costs!

This year's exciting program includes:

  • Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund
  • Margaret Heffernan, television and radio producer and author of The Naked Truth and How She Does It
  • Tory Johnson, founder of Women for Hire and seen weekly as ABC's Good Morning America's Workplace Contributor
  • Dee Dee Myers, nationally known political analyst, author and former White House Press Secretary
  • Veteran journalist and diplomatic correspondent Gail Scott will host a panel of women ambassadors and Becky Shambaugh will conduct a session with Tory Johnson
  • Five personal and professional development sessions will be conducted by leading professionals

Women in Technology is pleased to once again provide in-kind sponsorship of The Women's Center Annual Leadership Conference. As a benefit of this sponsorship, WIT members can attend this outstanding conference at the member rate of $150.00. (Non-member registration is $175.00.) This is an extraordinary career development opportunity to listen and learn from some dynamic, influential and highly-regarded women leaders from all sectors life. So share this information with your colleagues and join us on March 14th. When you register, be sure to ask to be seated at the WIT table.

Click here to register online.
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2009 WIT Member Survey Coming Soon — This Is Your Chance to Voice Your Opinion

In March, all current WIT members will receive an email providing a link for this year's member survey. This is your chance to provide valuable input and feedback to the organization, while making an impact on the future of WIT.

To show our appreciation for your time and feedback, you will be automatically entered into a raffle for a $100 gift-certificate to the Natural Body Salon & Shoppe in Arlington.

To ensure you receive your survey link, please adjust your SPAM filter to allow emails from witsurvey@marketconnectionsinc.com.

Market Connections will be conducting the survey again this year, and will use your email address to invite you to participate in the survey. Your responses will be anonymous, reported in aggregate.

If you have any questions, please contact us at staff@womenintechnology.org.

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Join LinkedIn and Take Your Networking Online

Social networking is all the rage, with tools such as Facebook, wikis, mash-ups, and Twitter gaining new members each and every day. WIT has jumped in the fray, joining the business-oriented social networking site, LinkedIn. With more than 30 million registered users spanning 150 countries, LinkedIn is the most well-known and respected social networking site for business users. The site receives more than 3.2 million unique visitors per month.

LinkedIn's mission is to "help you be more effective in your daily work and open doors to opportunities using the professional relationships you already have." From LinkedIn, you can quickly and easily connect with colleagues, partners, and customers, to name a few.

WIT is now an official group on LinkedIn, and is looking for you! Join the WIT group, and take your networking online! Here's how: when you're logged into LinkedIn, go to "Groups" on the left side of your screen. Then search for "Women in Technology" (use the quotation marks) in the search field on the right side of the screen. It should appear on the second search page with Brianna Carroll Boyle as the owner. If you have any questions, please contact Brianna Carroll Boyle at brianna.boyle@verizon.com.

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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, 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.

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Be Part of an Exciting WIT Project: The WIT "Bunyan Book" Team Needs Volunteers

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 emcee, 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.

May 2009 marks WIT's 10th Leadership Awards ceremony and the 15th anniversary of WIT — so the timing couldn't be better. Our goal is to interview and profile every winner of the past WIT Leadership Awards, from 1999 to 2009, in order 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; and
  • 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:

  • 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; and
  • Sales/Distribution: Determine how WIT will bring the book to market — coordinate orders and distribution to get the book in the hands of readers.

Contact Charlotte Pelliccia charlotte@pelliccia.biz or Marguerete Luter mluter@bellatlantic.net to learn more.

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