2019 TECHNOLOGY Woman of the Year - Tech Rochester
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Photo courtesy of Kelly Quinn
Instagram | @585photmom
2019
TECHNOLOGY
Woman of the Year
& Emerging Technology Professional Woman of the Year
Awards Breakfast Sponsored by:
Monroe Country Club
Wednesday, April 24
7:30 am—10:30 am
1
TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY
Woman of the Year Woman of the Year
Event Schedule
7:30—8:00 am Registration, Networking, Sponsor Showcase & Breakfast
Nominees
Drop off open for Volunteers of America Emergency Family
Shelter, The Guest House Laura Abplanalp, Director of Civil and Commercial Imaging,
Harris Space and Intelligence Systems
8:00 am Welcome & Introduction of Keynote Speaker | Judy Miller
& CEO at Sherri Baker-Hamilton, Assistant Professor & Art Department Chair,
Miller & Associates, LLC Nazareth College
8:10 am | Jennifer Beckage, Esq. CIPP/US Gabrielle Bedewi, Chief Analytics Officer,
Managing Director, Beckage PLLC
Butler/Till Media Services, Inc.
8:40 am Monroe Community College Scholarship | Nicole Mahoney
Diana Casale, Product Innovation Lead, ITX Corp.
President of TechRochester
Sarah Compter, President, SYNACT, Inc.
8:45 am 2018 Emerging Technology Professional Woman of the Year
Address | Kristen Seversky Gayle DeRose, CMO/COO/Partner, L-Tron Corporation
Product Owner, Paychex
Jody Gillette, Director of Software Development,
9:00 am Vuzix Corporation
| Judy Miller
Sharon Lechon, CEO/President, Edge-Global Technology
Solutions, Inc.
9:05 am
Victoria Van Voorhis, CEO, Second Avenue Learning
Executive Vice President at Entre Computer Services
9:10 am Volunteers of America Purse Raffle Winner | Nicole Mahoney
President of TechRochester EMERGING TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL
9:15 am 2018 Technology Woman of the Year Address | Dhireesha
Kudithipudi, PhD
Woman of the Year
Professor, Graduate Program Chair & Director of the
NanoComputing Research Lab, RIT
9:30 am 2019 Technology Woman of the Year Nominees | Judy Miller Nominees
9:45 am Announcement of the Technology Woman of the Year Award Sabrina Diol, Principal Engineer, Clinical Lab Platforms,
Winner | Andre Godfrey Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
President & CEO at Entre Computer Services
Christina Halladay, Interaction Designer, ITX Corp.
9:50 am
Deb Schleede, Global Demand Generation Manager,
CloudCheckr
10:00—10:30 am
Kelly Taran, CIO, First American Equipment Finance
*Nominees and TWY Winner photos will be taken at the front of the room
immediately after closing remarks. 3
TECHNOLOGY
Woman of the Year Celebrating
WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY
About the Awards
Recognizing, celebrating and making visible the achievements of women in high
technology fields. Through the Technology Woman of the Year Award and The
Emerging Technology Woman of the Year, women who work in these
professions are encouraged to stay in the Greater Rochester area, mentor young Kim Gaylord
women, and contribute to the economic growth of the region.
Executive Director,
Eligibility & Criteria
Eligible nominees include women who:
TechRochester
Are in a profession within the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math) Field
Work within the Greater Rochester Metropolitan Area (Genesee, Livingston,
Monroe, Ontario, Orleans and Wayne Counties) Welcome to the 2019 Technology Woman of the Year and Emerg-
ing Technology Woman of the Year Awards! I am excited to have
Are employed in a company whose primary product is technology or in a you all join us as we crown this year’s winners.
technology or technical department of a non-tech organization
Having attended numerous years in the past, I’ve always been
Evaluation Categories, Criteria, & Weighting inspired by these woman. Now, as Executive Director, I’ve had
the privilege of receiving their nominations and getting to know
Sustained contributions to the technology profession (40%) - Demonstrated them on a more personal level. They are a truly an amazing
impact to the profession, as illustrated by length of time in the profession, highest group of woman doing incredible things for in the technology field
level achieved, success promoting or implementing technology, details of and our community. Congratulations to each of the nominees for
projects/contributions, professional organization memberships/year joined/service their remarkable achievements, along with being outstanding rep-
resentatives of Women in Technology.
or positions held, technical publications and presentations (including where
delivered), degrees/concentrations, and special assignments The Tech Woman of the Year award is one example of how
TechRochester is committed to transforming the Rochester area
Contributions advancing the status, opportunities, and employment for into a Top 10 Technology region. Our educational and network-
women in the technology professions (50%) - Demonstrated contributions to ing events bring together technology professionals to support the
women, as illustrated by mentoring activities, hiring practices, developmental growth of the Rochester business community.
publications, and presentations, etc.
After hearing their stories, my hope is that you leave here inspired
Contributions to the community (10%) - Support for the involvement in the to do more for the Rochester Technology Community and Women
community, as illustrated by volunteer activities, developing new programs, in Technology. I look forward to a great award ceremony and
providing leadership services to community organizations or influencing the goals seeing you at future event.
of those organizations
5
Thank You to all Our Sponsors
Major Event Sponsor
About Us
TechRochester is an organization comprised of professionals and companies that
are working together to strengthen the Greater Rochester Area’s technology
community. We accomplish this through the development and sponsorship of Gold Sponsors
relevant events and stimulating programs focused on skill building and the
cultivation of individual and business relationships.
TechRochester was founded in 2000 as Digital Rochester. In 2010 the
organization grew with the inclusion of the Association for Women in Computing
(AWC) and the eBusiness Association (eBA). TechRochester rebranded in 2018 Silver Sponsors
in order to further the organization’s role as a leader in this area’s technology
transformation.
The events and community services developed by TechRochester include a wide
array of educational and networking activities designed to support the growth and
success of the Rochester business community. Through generous corporate
sponsorships from a wide variety of technology companies and community
organizations, we’ve been able to consistently enhance our area’s standing as a
technology center. Bronze Sponsors
Mission
TechRochester’s mission is to help drive economic growth in the region’s
technology community through education and relationship development. In-Kind Sponsors
Vision
TechRochester advances the transformation of Rochester into a top 10
technology region through collaboration, education and recognition.
Purse Raffle Sponsor
Join the Conversation Printing Sponsor
#TechRochester #TWY2019
7
Keynote
SPEAKER
Board of Directors Jennifer Beckage
Nicole Mahoney — President of TechRochester
CEO, Break the Ice Media
Peter Platt — President Elect of TechRochester Esq. CIPP/US,
President, Accountable Digital, LLC
Kim Gaylord — Executive Director of TechRochester
Managing Director,
Beckage PLLC
Reagan Burns — Director of Digital Marketing Peer Group
Owner/Art Director, Lime Creative
Brian Carroll — Past President of TechRochester
Managing Director, Genuent As Managing Director of the law national and international data
firm Beckage PLLC, Jennifer breaches and cyber incidents,
Cindy Crowley — Director of Volunteers leads a team of seasoned attor- providing strategy and risk mitiga-
Business Consultant, Sales360plus neys and privacy professionals tion advice and interface with reg-
focused on cybersecurity, infor- ulators. She also represents cli-
Briget Grbic — Director of Technology Leaders Peer Group mation technology, privacy law ents in class action litigation and
Senior Vice President & Industry Practice Lead, Marsh ClearSight and business growth. regulatory investigations.
Karl Herberger — Director of Technology Infrastructure & Marketing In 2018 she was recognized by She also assists clients with regu-
Chief Media Strategist, Mason Digital Cybersecurity Docket as one of latory compliance, including with
"the 30 best and brightest data the EU’s General Data Protection
Brett Kinsler — Director of Healthcare Technology Peer Group breach response lawyers" and Regulation (GDPR). She helps
Director of Clinical Services, Strategic Interests
one of the “key players - both in clients prepare policies, conduct
Ana Liss — Director of Diverse Audiences the public eye and behind-the- in-house training, and review con-
Managing Director of Business Development, Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) scenes-in the most significant da- tracts where data and technology
ta breach responses worldwide.” are involved.
Francine Miller — Director of Major Events
Talent Acquisition Manager, Paychex
Jennifer has personally respond- Jennifer is a Certified Information
ed to numerous headline-making, Privacy Professional/United
Judy Miller — Director of Women in Technology Peer Group States (CIPP/US) by the Interna-
Co-Founder & CEO, Miller & Associates, LLC tional Association of Privacy Pro-
fessionals (IAPP).
Andrew Pond — Director of Finance
Controller, Wilmorite Management Group, LLC In 2018, Jennifer was named one
of the 25 Women of Influence by
J. Michael Wood — Director of Membership Buffalo Business First.
Partner, Boylan Code
9
11
TECHNOLOGY
Woman of the Year
NOMINEE
Laura Abplanalp
Director of Civil and
Commercial Imaging,
Harris
Laura Abplanalp is the Director of Civil & Commercial Imaging within
Civil and Commercial Imaging, a ISR.
Business Area within the Intelli-
Ms. Abplanalp holds a Master of
gence, Surveillance & Reconnais-
Science in Mechanical Engineering
sance (ISR) Business Unit which is
from the University of Rochester, a
part of Harris Corporation Space
Master of Science in Engineering
and Intelligence Systems (SIS).
Mechanics from Michigan Techno-
SIS delivers complete solutions for logical University, and a Bachelor of
global situational awareness, space Science in Civil Engineering from
superiority, and Earth insights. We Michigan Technological University.
provide the world's most advanced She is certified as a Professional
sensors, payloads, and communi- Engineer (PE) in the State of New
cations technologies; receiving and York, a Project Management Pro-
information processing systems; fessional (PMP), and a Six Sigma
and analytics that give our custom- Black Belt.
ers the integrated information and
actionable intelligence they need for
mission and business success.
Ms. Abplanalp assumed the posi-
tion of Director in 2018. She is re-
sponsible for the space science
portfolio, several significant ground-
based telescope opportunities, and
optical component and structures
contracts. Ms. Abplanalp reports to
the VP GM of Gov’t Systems and
13
TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY
Woman of the Year Woman of the Year
NOMINEE
NOMINEE
Sherri Baker-Hamilton
Gabrielle Bedewi
Assistant Professor
& Art Department Chair, Chief Analytics Officer,
Nazareth College Butler/Till Media Services
Sherri Hamilton is Chair of the Art & Sherri has served as Education Dr. Gabrielle Bedewi joined But- As Chief Analytics Officer, Gabri-
Design Department and an Assis- Chair of the Rochester Advertising ler/Till as Chief Analytics Officer elle focuses on innovation, busi-
tant Professor in Visual Communi- Federation and as an Advisory with 20+ years of business con- ness growth, and enterprise- wide
cation Design at Nazareth College. Board Member for curriculum devel- sulting and marketing analytics analytic acumen education and
She teaches courses in typography, opment in graphic design and mar- experience. Gabrielle developed skills’ development, as she estab-
graphic design, and contemporary keting at the high school, under- a national reputation of combining lishes the vision and roadmap for
issues in design. She is passionate graduate, and graduate level for advanced analytics best-practices enhancing the analytics solutions’
about mentoring future designers to institutions including EMCC BO- with her insatiable curiosity, to portfolio through new marketing
be prepared for careers in visual CES, Finger Lakes Community Col-
reveal proactive and actionable analytics offerings; such as, seg-
communication. lege, and Nazareth College. She
insights driving measurable out- mentation, ROI forecasting, pre-
has been invited as a judge and
Prior to joining the faculty at Naza-
panelist for the Northeast Pennsyl-
comes. She has international dictive audience target selection,
reth, Sherri was an art director and success launching new products and marketing spend optimiza-
vania American Advertising Federa-
creative director in advertising. She & solutions, being recognized as tion.
tion ADDY Awards and the Roches-
has worked on creative teams and an authority on "big data", busi-
ter Business Journal Best of the
independently for corporate clients ness intelligence, predictive ana-
Web Awards.
including Bausch & Lomb, Brain- lytics, mathematical optimization,
Stem Biometrics, Car-Freshner Cor- Sherri remains active with freelance and segmentation systems. She
poration, CooperVision, Dick’s design and illustration projects for authored over 35 trade publica-
Sporting Goods, High Falls Brew- local and national clients, and per-
tions and is an accomplished
ery, Kodak, MetLife Bank, Monroe sonal projects for exhibition.
speaker with experience teaching
Community College, Wegmans
Food Markets, and Xerox to name a
at top-rated universities. Gabriel-
few. le earned a Ph.D. in Management
Sciences and Statistics from Uni-
Her design and illustration work has versity of Maryland, and an Exec-
earned regional and national utive M.B.A. from University of
awards from the American Advertis- Rochester.
ing Federation and the University
and College Designer’s Association.
15
TECHNOLOGY
Woman of the Year
NOMINEE
Diana Casale
Product Innovation Lead,
ITX Corp.
Diana Casale is a passionate trail ment company, serving as her entry
blazer with over 13 years of experi- point into the tech industry, where
ence in the technology industry, nine she’s been a pioneer ever since. One
of which have been in a leadership of Diana’s proudest accomplishments
position where she’s dedicated her was partnering her first web company
career to inspiring teams and individu- with her first job in New York City at a
als to produce their best work. Diana print advertising agency that special-
takes pride in being a strong advocate ized in luxury real estate. Diana effec-
for women, many have said that she’s tively overhauled the print agency’s
missed her calling as a coach and product and service offerings, trained
motivational speaker. Diana has a and mentored the entire staff, and
long history of paying it forward, as brought the company into the digital
she’s an enthusiastic believer in the age.
power of manifesting your own desti-
ny and has taught many women how When Diana is not in the digital arena
to manifest their own career goals. championing product development
efforts and motivating her teams, you
Diana currently serves as a Product can find her creating various types of
Innovation Lead with ITX Corp. She artwork and jewelry, attending live
has helped ITX build and refine the music events, and boating on Lake
powerful ideas and thought leadership Ontario. Diana’s personal and profes-
theories used in the ever-evolving sional drive can be summed up by the
software product development space. contents of a fortune cookie she re-
Her contributions have touched hun- ceived years ago: “If you catch on fire
dreds of technologists within ITX and with enthusiasm, people will come for
its customer base; the results will be miles to watch you burn!”
utilized for years to come by tens of
thousands of people who use the
software that ITX produces on behalf
of its clients.
Diana received her bachelor’s degree
in Communications from the Universi-
ty at Buffalo. In her junior year, she
assisted in starting a web develop-
17
TECHNOLOGY
Woman of the Year
NOMINEE
Sarah Compter
President,
SYNACT, Inc.
Sarah Compter is the President at When she’s not working to meet the
SYNACT, a technology firm that demands of her own small busi-
enables small and midsized busi- ness, Sarah serves as VP and
nesses to harness the power of Membership Chair for the Small
Microsoft Dynamics 365, a state-of- Business Council of Rochester. She
the-art suite of customer relation- also serves the Flower City Habitat
ship management and business for Humanity, the Women’s Foun-
productivity tools. Under Sarah’s dation of Genesee Valley, and the
leadership, SYNACT is disrupting Town of Webster’s Parks, Recrea-
the software industry’s traditional tion, Open Space & Athletic Review
service model in favor of a program board.
focused on results delivered, not
Prior to her 10 years with SYNACT,
hours spent. Sarah believes in an
Sarah worked for M&T Bank in the
immersive, evolutionary approach
Baltimore-Washington DC metro
to software development and takes
area. Her experience working in big
pride in SYNACT’s collaborative
corporate and small family business
approach to working with clients.
environments, paired with her ser-
Sarah began her tenure with SYN- vice on several non-profit boards, Upcoming Events
ACT in 2009. Within two years, she has prepared her well to navigate
took on responsibilities for manag- the unpredictable waters of entre- June 4, 2019 | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
ing day-to-day operations. She has preneurial life.
served as President since late Business Intelligence and Analytics in Healthcare
2016, when she bought SYNACT Presented by our Healthcare Peer Group & HIMSS
and re-headquartered in Rochester.
Since then, she has grown the team June 7, 2019 | 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
from two to six and doubled recur-
ring revenue. In an industry domi- Chatbots: What Are They and How to Utilize Them
nated by men, Sarah has built a Presented by our Digital Marketing Peer Group
team of mostly women.
19TECHNOLOGY
Woman of the Year
NOMINEE
Save The Date
Gayle DeRose
Chief Marketing Officer &
Chief Operating Officer,
L-Tron Corporation;
Managing Partner, OSCR LLC
Founded in 1975, L-Tron provides force is comprised of women. By
purpose-built data capture hard- establishing and fostering a culture
ware and software technology solu- of empowerment and growing indi-
tions, specializing in public sector, vidual leaders, she shines a light on
as well as manufacturing, industrial her team’s achievements. The re-
automation and field mobility. OS- sult is a successful and engaged
CR360 is L-Tron’s newest offering team of innovators.
and is being well received in the
public safety sector; specifically
DeRose is also a member of a local
Women Executive Leadership
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Law Enforcement & Fire Depts.
Group and Women Presidents Or- Joseph A. Floreano
Gayle demonstrates a heartfelt de- ganization. These highly confiden-
sire to encourage, support and grow tial, peer advisory groups support Riverside Convention Center
the roles to support women in tech- executive women leaders in a trust-
nology. As an executive leader in ed environment, focusing on per-
Exhibitor Showcase*, Networking, & Grazing Stations
the industry, Gayle is no stranger to sonal and professional growth.
5:00pm – 7:00pm
challenges. She accepts every chal-
lenge head on, and welcomes chal- Outside of her business, Gayle’s life
lenges as opportunities to creatively is centered on her family. She also GREAT Awards Presentation
problem solve, take necessary enjoys reading, gardening, Maui 7:00pm – 8:00pm
risks, and find solutions. and is a life-long learner.
Cordial Hour – Exhibitor Showcase* and Networking
As an active mentor and coach, 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Gayle guides the women on her
teams to successfully navigate the TechRochester’s GREAT Awards program recognizes and celebrates
unique challenges in the corporate technological achievement in the Greater Rochester community by
world of technology. When Gayle
highlighting the organizations and individuals that show leadership and
first started at L-Tron, she was the
innovation in the field of technology.
only female on staff at the entire
company. Today, 46% of the work-
21TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY
Woman of the Year Woman of the Year
NOMINEE NOMINEE
Jody Gillette Sharon Lechon
Director of Software CEO/President,
Development, Edge-Global Technology
Vuzix Corporation Solutions, Inc.
Jody is currently the Director of Jody has been proudly serving on
Software Development at Vuzix the Spencerport Board of Educa-
Corporation and has worked in the tion for eleven years (two Sharon is CEO/President and Co- revenue growth and was awarded
technology field for over 30 years. years as Vice President) and had Founder of EDGE – Global Tech- Autodesk Platinum Club.
Born and raised in Rochester, she previously served on nology Solutions. She brings,
Recognizing there is extreme
started her post-college career in IT SUNY Brockport’s Computer Sci- more than 20 years of business
VDC technology focused need for
audit and information security and ence Advisory Board for development and executive expe-
WBE/DBE services in the A/E/C
over the years has held numerous six years. In her duties, she’s been rience with the adoption and ap-
industry, she, along with her busi-
leadership roles spanning the major on numerous committees promot- plication of the worlds’ leading
ness partner, started EDGE –
functions that bring technology so- ing STEM education and enrich- design technology and service
Global Technology Solu-
lutions to people: software engi- ment, most notably in her ten-year solutions for the A/E/C industry.
tions. When EDGE is not provid-
neering, software test and automa- work on Spencerport’s Technology
Growing up in West Texas, with a ing adoption and application ser-
tion, portfolio and project manage- Advisory committee. She’s very
ment, software deployment, prod- proud to have been part of the dis- father that was General Superin- vices, they have a team expert
uct design, engineer technical sup- trict’s recent expansion of the tech- tendent for a large construction architects and engineers that
port, product documentation, and nology curriculum to a four-year firm, it was only natural that she have the love of design technolo-
more. She’s held a variety of tech- program and with a senior-year found her way to the AECO In- gy, industry experience, and can
nology management roles in her independent study option in Com- dustry with a focus on technology. apply high quality VDC services
tenure in the banking, payroll, puter Science. Jody has a passion Sharon worked with national and and support to help firms meet
news, legal information, and elec- for education and promoting ca- international firms to assist them WBE/DBE requirements during
tronics/wearable augmented-reality reers here in Rochester; her dis- in the adoption and successful planning, design, pre- and post-
industries. Jody taught as an Ad- cussions with students as they de- implementation of their design construction.
junct Professor in the Computer cide their journey in STEM fields technology and processes. She
Science department at RIT. Inno- are some of her most fun conversa- started and built her own Auto-
vation, life-long learning, continual tions. desk AEC Partnership, in Dallas/
improvement, and cultivating a pos- Fort Worth, which grew to a team
itive work culture are regular of 15 and $12m in revenue within
themes in her work. 3 years. Her team closed the larg-
est Autodesk AEC deal in Auto-
desk’s company history, largest
23TECHNOLOGY
Woman of the Year
NOMINEE
Victoria Van Voorhis
CEO,
Second Avenue Learning
Victoria Van Voorhis has worked SBIR grants. As an Ed-Tech lead-
in the education and technology er, Victoria is a sought-after
industry for more than 16 years. speaker and author.
She is the founder and CEO of
Victoria currently serves on the
Second Avenue Software, Inc., an
Boards of The Rochester Muse-
award-winning educational game
um and Science Center, The Ver-
studio that has been producing
tus Charter High School, and the
educational games and interac-
Rochester Downtown Develop-
tives for over 10 years. Second
ment Corporation. She is the Co-
Avenue’s products have over 30
founder and President-elect of the
million play-throughs of science
Digital Game Industry Association
games and simulations in 31
of Rochester (DGIA). Victoria
countries. The studio partnered
received her undergraduate de-
with RIT and The Strong this year
gree from Smith College and her
to provide the level of polish and
master’s degree from New York
professional code required to
University. She resides in Pitts-
make “The Original Mobile
ford, NY with her family.
Games” app across several com-
mercial platforms.
Prior to founding Second Avenue,
Victoria was a teacher at the mid-
dle school, high school and col-
lege levels. She has served as
the principal investigator for multi-
ple Department of Education and
National Science Foundation
grants and is an active reviewer
for National Science Foundation
25EMERGING TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL EMERGING TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL
Woman of the Year Woman of the Year
NOMINEE NOMINEE
Sabrina Diol Christina Halladay
Principal Engineer, Interaction Designer,
Clinical Lab Platforms, ITX Corp.
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
Sabrina is an R&D Technical efficiency semiconductor- Christina Halladay is a User Expe-
Lead at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics electrolyte hybrid solar cells. She rience (UX) Designer with an edu-
with over 20 years of experience was award the Link Energy Fel- cational background in Psycholo-
in corporate research and devel- lowship to pursue this work. One gy and a passion for ‘people’
opment. Her team delivered inno- of her key publications earned the problems. She's driven to under-
vation in the field of in-vitro diag- Journal Award from the Journal of stand how things work and how
nostics last year through the glob- Imaging Science and Technology. they impact the people that inter-
al launch of the VITROS XT 7600 Sabrina is an advocate for gender act with them. At ITX, she is a
Integrated Systems, a blood ana- parity in the technical workplace. Director of UX where she works
lyzer designed for clinical labora- She has mentored numerous with distributed cross-functional
tories to diagnose, monitor and women engineers and is assisting teams to build impactful, human-
treat disease. Her prior experi- in the establishment of a local centered digital products. Last
ence was in the development and chapter of the Healthcare Busi- year, she co-founded and orga-
commercialization of inkjet print- nesswomen’s Association. She is nized a UX conference series
ing technologies at Eastman Ko- also passionate about spreading called ITXUX, where several
dak, where she secured 2 device an interest in STEM in the Roch- world-renowned speakers came
patents. Sabrina earned a Ph.D. ester community. to Rochester to educate and in-
in Physics from the University of spire the local growing tech com-
Rochester in 1997. Her research munity. When she’s not designing
focused on the viability of high digital products, she can usually
be found somewhere outside with
her husband and two dogs, being
amazed by the design of the natu-
ral world.
27EMERGING TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL EMERGING TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL
Woman of the Year Woman of the Year
NOMINEE NOMINEE
Deb Schleede Kelly Taran
Global Demand CIO,
Generation Manager, First American
CloudCheckr Equipment Finance
Deb is described as ambitious At work she administers state of Kelly Taran is the Chief Infor- recipient of First American’s 2017
and analytical. She is an active the art technology alongside data- mation Officer for First American Operations Person of the Year
advocate for STEM education and driven business processes to con- Equipment Finance. She is re- Award and a finalist for First
diversity in the tech industry. Deb tinually improve Marketing, Sales, sponsible for IT strategy, technol- American’s Chairman's Award for
spends most of her free time as a and Engineering results. In her ogy implementation, and infor- excellence in leadership, charac-
volunteer and mentor with Up- personal time, she enjoys travel- mation security. Kelly leads a ter and integrity.
state NY FIRST robotics pro- ing and spending time outdoors team of eleven colleagues fo-
Kelly is a member of First Ameri-
grams and events. She is often with family. cused on delivering exceptional
can’s Diversity committee and has
vocal and supportive of efforts to client and colleague experiences
helped to significantly improve the
improve diversity in the technolo- with a cloud-first technology
female to male ratio in the IT de-
gy sector, including the encour- stack.
partment over the last twelve
agement of gender inclusion in
Kelly completed her MBA at the months.
STEM opportunities. She can fre-
University of Rochester's Simon
quently be found speaking at con- Prior to joining First American,
Business School with concentra-
ferences, supporting local hacka- Kelly was a CRM Consultant with
tions in Competitive and Organi-
thons, or as a guest lecture at the BlackTab Group, a local con-
zational Strategy and Business
area colleges. Deb is building her sulting firm that specialized in
Systems Consulting. She also
career dedicated to the conver- Salesforce.com technology imple-
holds a bachelor's degree in Com-
gence of data, technology, and mentations.
puter Science, with minors in
business at CloudCheckr — a
Mathematics and Business Stud-
software company in Rochester.
ies, from the State University of
New York College at Geneseo.
Kelly joined First American in
2015 as a Business Systems An-
alyst, focused on the execution of
strategic projects. She was the
29SCHOLARSHIP
Recipient
CONGRATULATIONS
Rachael Rogan
Student,
Monroe Community College
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Webster, NY
I am currently a freshman at Monroe walk with God, both of which I am
Community College and I am studying thankful for. I hope to expand my
Computer Science. I am one of six knowledge of and love for program-
children and the only person in my ming at a four year school and even-
family who is both a nerd and a geek, tually work in software development.
but I enjoy being both very much.
Alongside my love of math and com- I would like to express my sincere
puters, I love playing piano and paint- appreciation for your generosity in
ing. I am currently involved in MCC’s investing in my education. It is a tre-
Campus Ambassadors club which mendous blessing to me and my fami-
has allowed me to meet some really ly to have so much help in funding my
great people as well as deepen my first year of college. Your gift has giv-
en me much encouragement and
confidence as I step into this next
season of learning. As I continue to
pursue my computer science major, I
am excited about the challenges and
opportunities it will bring. Thank you
again for supporting my desire to be a
technological nerd.
About the Scholarship
Established by TechRochester in 2010, this academic scholarship is intended to support
female students at Monroe Community College (MCC) who are preparing for careers in
computer science, information technology, and digital media. TechRochester’s Women in
Technology Peer Group is actively working to remove barriers to higher education and
motivate students to explore technical fields.
Eligibility
The recipient must attend Monroe Community College as a full or part time student, have
completed at least 12 credits at MCC, and have achieved a minimum of 3.0 grade point
average. Applicants should apply to the Monroe Community College Foundation at
www.monroecc.edu/depts/foundation or to the Dean of Technical Education at MCC.
31TECHNOLOGY
Woman of the Year
Past Award Recipients
2018 Dhireesha Kudithipudi, PhD | Rochester Institute of Technology
2017 Garland J. Nichols | Xerox Corporation
2016 Ewa Pigna | Lenel
2015 Sandra Roberts | Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Co.
2014 Anne Bell | Xerox Corporation
2013 Amy Carey | Amy Carey Consulting
2012 Jennifer Kruschwitz | JK Consulting & University of Rochester
2011 Victoria Van Voorhis | Second Avenue Software
2010 Jeanne Casares | Rochester Institute of Technology*
2009 Mary Piehler | Serverware*
2008 Sharon Martinez | University of Rochester Medical Center*
2007 Christine Scheible | Quantum Technology Associates*
2006 Kathryn Angelidis | Paychex, Inc.*
2005 Sue Chichester | SUNY Geneseo*
2004 Karen Benjamin | Ciber, Inc.*
2003 Eydie Lawson | Rochester Institute of Technology*
2002 Juli Klie | Veritor Executive Advisors*
2001 Barbara Kunkel | Nixon Peabody LLP*
2000 Award given in honor of all women in IT*
*Past IT Woman of the Year Winners
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL
Woman of the Year
Past Award Recipients
2018 Kristen Seversky | Girl Develop It
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