Show us how OKWIT has impacted you and enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card! Enter here. Submit a 20 second video - pick one word to describe how OKWIT has positively impacted you, either personally or professionally, and explain why you chose that word. Submit by Friday @ 6 PM. *If you do not have a Google Account, you may email your submission to info@okwit.org with the subject "Contest Submission" ...
Do you know an outstanding community member or OKWIT member or volunteer? Nominate them today for one of our 2020 awards by clicking here! OKWIT Trailblazer Award This annual OKWIT award is given to a woman each year who is not only a member of OKWIT, but has proven herself by way of example, to be a trail blazer for women in the technology field. This recognition is vital to encouraging women to not only select a career in technology but stay the course and reach management levels in the IT departments. *Trailblazer nominees cannot be a current OKWIT executive board member or an active OKWIT advisory board member. Advocate Member of the Year Award given in recognition to an inspiring advocate member for their outstanding support, involvement and contributions to OKWIT in 2020. Contributing Executive Member of the Year Award given to an inspiring CE member for their outstanding support, involvement and contributions to OKWIT in 2020. Volunteer of the Year Award given to a member of OKWIT for their exceptional level of involvement in OKWIT in 2020. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominations will be reviewed by the OKWIT Executive Board and the OKWIT Advisory Board, and will be announced at the OKWIT Gala. Winners will receive 2 complimentary tickets to the Gala (TBD) to receive their award. 2020 Nomination Deadline - December 18 2020 5PM CST...
Cindy Silva is an IT Reporting Analyst at Diamondback Energy, where she develops enterprise solutions using data analytics tools and custom code capabilities. Before working for Diamondback, Cindy worked as a lead software developer at Devon Energy for six years focused on data modeling and integration solutions. Cindy earned her bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Texas at Austin. She also has a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Oklahoma. Cindy completed the Professional MBA program in two years while working full-time at Devon Energy. In her spare time, she enjoys taking barre, yoga, and Pilates classes at a local Oklahoma City studio, traveling with friends and family, and relaxing at the house with her boyfriend and their chocolate Lab and tabby cat....
Bailee Spear is a Business Analyst at Devon Energy, responsible for business process improvement in SAP support. Bailee earned her BBA in MIS and Marketing from the University of Oklahoma in May 2015, and her Masters of Business Administration from Oklahoma City University in December 2017. She is currently a part-time Doctoral student pursuing a degree in Organizational Leadership from Liberty University. As an OKWIT member since 2017, she is excited to take on a leadership role as the new Director of Special Events for 2020. She has previously held leadership positions in Make-A-Wish and Young Professionals in Energy....
Ashley Coffey is a technologist, brand specialist and speaker. As an OKC native, Ashley has spent the past ten years working in the technology industry and provides expertise to the community on how to use technology as means of empowerment. Ashley has held multiple positions within the private and public sectors such as Apple Inc., Cartograph LLC., Emerging Technologies at OU Libraries, and the Information Technology department at the University of Oklahoma, in addition to launching her own professional photography business in 2010. Ashley is passionate about connecting people with technology and demystifying what it can do to improve all aspects of everyday life. She is a TEDx speaker and has presented on emerging technologies at nation-wide conferences. Ashley also serves as President-Elect for local nonprofit, Oklahoma Women in Technology and was a 2016 STEM award recipient for the '30 Under 30' program which recognizes young individuals making an impact in their community. In her free time, Ashley enjoys traveling and spending time in the outdoors with her husband....
Carrie Engelbrecht has worked in the Telecommunications industry for 19 years, gaining experience as a Business Analyst, Technician, Operations Manager, and Project Manager across the Engineering, Service Management, and Sales Support organizations. Carrie is currently a Technical Project Manager in Field Engineering at Cox Communications focused on technology-driven projects that improve network availability and reliability as well as build and operate future state network capabilities. She's demonstrated a forward-thinking mindset and exceptional leadership skills during her time on the Board of Directors for Women in Cable Telecommunications, Chair of the Market Engagement Team for Cox, co-leader of a companywide innovation program, and mentor for the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance. Carrie loves crafts and do-it-yourself adventures. She enjoys playing semi-professional pool (billiards) and spending time with her son Chandler and husband, Andrew. ...
As the Director of Professional Development, Jenn Banda aims to ignite the talents of her OKWIT colleagues in 2020. Behind her humor and smile, she is known to make things happen. Jenn is passionate about working with teams to implement national adoption strategies and coach skills growth within her fellow members. Want to dip a toe into volunteering with OKWIT? Talk to Jenn about how you can help with one of our events in 2020! jbanda@okwomenintech.org...
Kate Williams, Ph.D. is the owner and founder of People First Content, a content agency dedicated to helping business owners develop and execute their digital content strategy. She also teaches business writing classes at the University of Tulsa. Before serving as Secretary, Kate served as Social Media Chair for OKWIT....
Winners announced for the only annual event in Oklahoma celebrating women working to bridge the gender gap in STEM. The Oklahoma Women in Technology (OKWIT) annual Gala is the only event in the state of Oklahoma that gathers supporters of Oklahoma’s STEM community to recognize and announce the many accomplishments of women working to make a difference for current and future women in technology. OKWIT will announce their Trailblazer of the Year and other acclaimed awards at their annual Gala on Saturday, January 25th at Vast in downtown Oklahoma City. This year’s event will be presented by Devon Energy, ONE Gas, Davenport Group, Coretopia, Cox Business Solutions, Pure Storage, Grey Goose and Patron. 100% of proceeds generated from this event support the OKWIT scholarship fund and OKWIT programming held throughout the year in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Ticket sales have ended online, but can be purchased at the door for $125. OKWIT is a locally originated nonprofit with a mission to increase the number of women entering into technical careers, encourage women to stay in careers while helping confront barriers and challenges they commonly face, and to help promote qualified women into leadership roles. They strive to network, educate and promote women interested in technology and solving technical problems across the state of Oklahoma. To learn more, visit OKWIT.org. Congratulations to these current and future women in technology who lead others through their shining example in 2019 to bridge the gender gap in STEM in the state of Oklahoma. SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS: Laura Farris, Gordon Cooper Technology Center Breanna Smith, Mount St. Mary High School Chelsea Savage, University of Central Oklahoma Mary Wavering OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD WINNERS: Jenn Banda, Software Product Manager, Paycom Ashley Clayton, Success Coach, Whiteboard Technology Davaadulam Davaakhuu, Database Developer, ENACOMM Inc. Devin Elmenhorst, Data Center Compute Executive, Dell EMC Carrie Engelbrecht, Technical Project Manager, Cox Communications Rebecca Hartwig, Founder, Hartwig Staffing Michelle Jarrett, Manager Business Systems, Enable Midstream Jessica Lippert, Lead Business Analyst, Devon Energy Davon Olds, Manager II, Computer & Solutions-Server, Dell EMC Kate Williams, Founder, People First Content VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Kim Thomas, Project Manager, Hospitality Consulting Services, Infor ADVOCATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR: Elizabeth Harris, Software Consultant & Developer, Asemio CONTRIBUTING EXECUTIVE MEMBER OF THE YEAR: Brandy Semore, Senior Director, IT Services & Engagement, Pinnacle Business Systems PRESIDENT’S AWARD WINNER: Jayme Bynum, IT Director, Infrastructure, Energy Transfer TRAILBLAZER AWARD WINNER: Bekah Mercer, Director of IT & Marketing, Palomar This annual OKWIT award is given to a woman who is not only a member of OKWIT, but has proven herself by way of example, to be a trailblazer for women in the technology field. This recognition is vital to encouraging women to not only select a career in technology, but stay the course and reach management levels in IT departments. In 2019, Bekah launched the CTRL + SHIFT Code School in Oklahoma City to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking begin new careers and escape their abusers. The six-month program at the CTRL + SHIFT Code School should be enough to change the lives of survivors. “I am a woman in tech and I’d love to see more women in tech in our community in Oklahoma City, and I think it’s a great opportunity to really change lives for survivors and their families,” said Bekah. You can apply to the program or get more information about it here. For more information on OKWIT, our scholarship and award winners, or our events coming up in 2020, please visit OKWIT.org. OKWIT Gala Press Release (PDF)...
[gallery columns="5" ids="1343,1342,1341,1340,1339,1338,1332,1333,1334,1335,1336,1337,1331,1330,1329,1328,1327,1326,1320,1321,1322,1323,1324,1325,1319,1318,1317,1316,1315,1314,1308,1309,1310,1311,1312,1313,1307,1306,1305,1304,1303,1302,1296,1298,1299,1300,1301,1295,1293,1294,1292,1291,1290,1289,1288,1287,1286,1285,1282,1281,1280,1279,1278,1277,1276,1275,1274"]...