The Trailblazer Award is given to a member of OKWIT each year who has proven herself, by way of example, to be a trailblazer for women in STEM fields.
This recognition is vital to encouraging women to select a career in STEM and stay the course and reach management levels in the professions. Currently only 18% of computer science graduates are women, and only 17% of Fortune 500 CIO positions are held by women. This, despite that most of the workforce is comprised of women, with 57% of all professional occupations held by women in the US workforce.
OKWIT 2023 Trailblazer: Stephanie Stewart, Former Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Pioneer Natural Resources
Before her recent retirement, Stephanie worked for Pioneer Natural Resources for over 9 years in the position of Vice President and Chief Information Officer where she helped lead the digital strategy program, the implementation of the new ERP platform, and multiple acquisition and divestiture activities. Prior to this role, she demonstrated career progression during her 12-year stint at Devon Energy, where her roles culminated as Vice President of E&P Data and Analytics and Strategic Integration. Stephanie's professional career also includes experiences at Williams Energy and BP Amoco.
Currently, Ms. Stewart serves as a Board Member for Dallas CASA and is part of the Board of Advisors for the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma. Her academic achievements are highlighted by a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and an Executive MBA in Energy, both from the University of Oklahoma. Additionally, she obtained a Cyber-Risk Oversight Certificate from NACD, in association with the CERT Division at Carnegie Mellon University.
Among her accomplishments, Stephanie was honored in the inaugural cohort of the Emerging Executive Academy at Devon Energy, received a Distinguished Alumni Award from her alma mater, and was nominated for the '50 Most Powerful Women in Oil and Gas' by the National Diversity Council.
OKWIT 2022 Trailblazer: Elizabeth Pollard, Secretary of Science & Education, State of Oklahoma
While serving on the governor’s cabinet, Pollard established two councils: the Science and Innovation Council and the Aerospace, Autonomous Systems and Defense Council. Under her leadership, these councils published a five-year strategic plan for science and innovation for the state.
Additionally, the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) established 3 state-funded accelerator programs with national partners and with $82M in Small Business Credit Initiative funding (SSBCI), established the Oklahoma Venture Capital Investment Program and the Oklahoma Business Lending Program, to provide funding resources to Oklahoma businesses.
The OKWIT 2022 Trailblazer award was bestowed upon Pollard at the annual OKWIT Gala on November 5 at Gaillardia Golf & Country Club.
OKWIT 2021 Trailblazer: Erika Lucas, Co-Founder, StitchCrew
In both her beliefs and actions, Erika Lucas epitomizes the characteristics of a trailblazer in technology and beyond. She is the Co-Founder of StitchCrew (2016) and VEST (2020), Partner OKC Thunder Launchpad Accelerator (2018), investor, podcast host, community champion, TEDxOU speaker, opportunity provider for entrepreneurs and change-makers, evangelist for inclusivity and equality, technology enthusiast, and more.
She began her career facilitating the establishment and in-country operation of several international manufacturing companies in Mexico. Before launching StitchCrew and VEST, she was a Partner at a Private Equity Firm with investments in the U.S. and Europe. Before that, Erika was the Global Director at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Erika Lucas is a difference-maker and most certainly a prime example of a trailblazer for women in STEM.
The OKWIT 2021 Trailblazer award was bestowed upon Lucas at the annual OKWIT Gala on October 15 at Coles Garden in Oklahoma City.
OKWIT 2019 Trailblazer: Bekah Mercer, Director of IT & Marketing, Palomar
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 will forever 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 Mercer.
You can apply to the program or get more information about it on the CTRL + SHIFT website.
The OKWIT 2019 Trailblazer award was bestowed upon Mercer at the annual OKWIT Gala on January 25 at VAST located on the 50th floor of Devon Tower.
OKWIT 2018 Trailblazer: Sonya Watkins, Chief Information Officer, University of Central Oklahoma
Watkins’ affinity for IT peaked in high school, with classes in word processing, desktop software, and computer programming. Despite her natural inclination towards technology, Watkins didn’t actively pursue IT as a career, starting out as a licensed securities representative at a bank, then managing accounts for a group medical practice. Through these experiences, she was always looking for a more efficient and effective way to get things done and continuously found technology to be a key part of the solution.
“I would often find myself putting together the business case, developing the specs, researching solutions, buying and installing equipment, implementing the solution, and training others to use it,” Watkins said.
All of this led to the position that she now carries, as an integral leader and CIO for UCO’s IT department. Not only is she breaking glass ceilings for all women in tech, but as a woman of color, she’s a true trailblazer when considering that woman of color only comprise 3% of the jobs in IT – let alone reach top management.
The OKWIT 2018 Trailblazer award was bestowed upon Watkins at the annual OKWIT Gala on November 30 at the Oklahoma City Petroleum Club.
