Today’s globalized world means companies span time zones, cultures, and languages. This presents a huge challenge for organizations that want to enable people to work together on projects wherever they work. Collaboration tools for business are a key solution to keep people communicating across borders and working on business goals together. But those platforms need certain key tools to enable people to continue the conversation and overcome geographic barriers. This WIT.Connect will discuss ways that can help you and your team get more work done.


Registration Fees
FREE for WIT Members
$25 for Non-members

Panelists

Jennifer Liu
PMO Director, OBXtek, Inc.
linkedin.com/in/jennifer-liu-484184/

As the PMO Director, Ms. Liu leads the Project Management Office, which supports over 40 contracts from project onboarding through closeout, oversees compliance with functional area requirements, quality standards, and enterprise process and reporting.

Ms. Liu has over 20 years of experience in project and program management. Prior to joining OBXtek, she worked at Verizon in increasingly senior roles. Ms. Liu holds a B.S. in Business Management from Purdue University. Additionally, she is a SAFe Agilist 4.0, IC Agile Certified Professional, and Certified Scrum Master.

Ms. Liu credits being able to keep up with her twin boys to her love of working out. She also loves to craft, cook, and bake.

Luba Sakharuk
Digital Transformation Coach, Apex Systems
linkedin.com/in/luba-sakharuk-947aa5/

Deborah Stephens
Deputy Chief Information Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
linkedin.com/in/debbie-stephens-27601b31/

Deborah Stephens is the Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In this role, she is the principal advisor to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and is responsible for managing day-to-day IT operations, and has significant oversight on IT stabilization and modernization efforts. Ms. Stephens guides continual improvements in IT delivery at the USPTO for maximum value to internal and external stakeholders.

Ms. Stephens has served the USPTO for over 25 years in multiple leadership roles. Prior to joining the CIO, she was the Associate Commissioner for the Office of Patent Information Management (OPIM) and provided strategic direction and administration on matters related to the improvement and enhancement of electronic end-to-end processing of patent applications. While in this role, Ms. Stephens worked collaboratively with the CIO as well as other executive stakeholders across the USPTO to increase and improve the automated tools and informational resources that facilitate patent examination, the technical processing of patent applications, and automation training for Patents employees.

Ms. Stephens received a Bachelor of Arts degree from George Mason University and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from The George Washington University.

Raya Zachs
Vice President, Product & Engineering, Abilis Solutions Inc.
linkedin.com/in/rayazachs/

After earning my degree in Mathematics & Computer Science from Bar Ilan University in Israel, I entered the IT world to explore my passion for technology. 

Today, I am an experienced product management and technology executive with over 17 years of experience in IT. I am passionate about  building high performance teams and finding innovative solutions to challenging problems. 

For the past 13 years I have been working for Abilis Solutions, located in Montreal Canada. Abilis Solutions is an established leader in the design, delivery and support of information-centric offender management solutions (OMS) for the global corrections market.

I currently play the role of the VP of Product & Engineering and manage a large team of over 100 IT professionals.

I love what I do because as a leader in our market, our teams are committed to help corrections agencies and professionals realize a safer and more secure world, and to enable offenders to re-enter their communities in a successful, dignified manner.