FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT:                       Michael Scricca Connecticut Technology Council (860) 289-0878 x334 mscricca@ct.org

Becky Giantonio Pita Communications (860) 293-0157, ext. 25

Connecticut Technology Council Announces Finalists for

Fourth Annual Women of Innovation Awards Program

Awards Program Honors Women Leaders in

Technology, Science and Engineering

 

HARTFORD, Conn. (December 5, 2007) – The Connecticut Technology Council (CTC)'s Women of Innovation planning committee today announced the finalists for the fourth annual Women of Innovation awards program. This program recognizes women – both students and those in the workforce – across Connecticut who are innovators, role models and leaders in their fields.

 

The winner in each of the eight awards categories will be announced during the 2008 Women of Innovation Awards Dinner at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington on January 30, 2008.

 

“These finalists are outstanding leaders in technology, science and engineering, as well as pioneers who are making a significant difference in their workplace and academia,” said Beth Alquist, chair of the planning committee for the Women of Innovation awards program. “They serve as esteemed role models to their peers and women interested in pursuing a career in the sciences.”

 

This year’s list of 54 finalists includes researchers, educators, managers, business owners and service providers who work in the biotech, pharmaceuticals, telecom, software, computer hardware, electronics, alternative energy, nanotech, medical devices, IT, networks, communications or robotics fields.

 

High school, undergraduate and graduate students who have demonstrated extraordinary and unique achievements in technology are also among the finalists. The winner in the Youth Innovation and Leadership category will receive a scholarship from the Connecticut Technology Council.

 

The 2008 Women of Innovation awards finalists are, by category:

 

Academic Innovation and Leadership

• Victoria Brennan, department chair, science and math departments, Mitchell College, New London
• Erin Lavik, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, Yale University, New Haven
• Susan Masino, professor of neuroscience and psychology, Trinity College, Hartford
• Sarah Raskin, director and associate professor, Trinity College, Hartford
• Cheryl Watson, professor of biomolecular sciences, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
• Karen Zwick, teacher, Cold Spring School, New Haven

 

Collegian Innovation and Leadership

• Elizabeth Cole, student, Franklin & Marshall College, Newtown
• DeCarol Davis, cadet and student, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London
• Katrina Ellison, student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Westport
• Haley Lepo, student, Trinity College, Hartford

 

Community Innovation and Leadership

• Sandra Anagnostakis, agricultural scientist, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven
• Jeanette Brown, executive director, Stamford Water Pollution Control Authority, Stamford
• Katherine Emery, president, Walker Systems Support, Farmington
• Tracy Hall, senior continuity planner and trainer, CAPS Business Recovery Services, Shelton
• Christine Mansfield, president, Discovery Training Services, Wallingford
• Sheenah Mische, director, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield

 

Entrepreneurial Innovation and Leadership

• Anne Evans, president and CEO, EER Limited, Hebron
• Monica Goldstein, executive vice president, RecoveryPlanner.com, Inc., Shelton
• Deborah Moss, chairman and founder, Avalence, LLC, Milford
• Kristin Muschett, president and CEO, HABCO, Inc., Glastonbury
• Teresa Piliouras, president, Albright Associates, Inc., Weston

 

Large Business Innovation and Leadership

• Linda Bergemann, principal engineer and technical leader, General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton
• B.J. Bormann, vice president, strategic alliances, Pfizer Global Research & Development, New London
• Suzan DeGarmo, lead survivability engineer, Sikorsky Aircraft, Stratford
• Carolyn Foster, senior associate director, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield
• Denise Fudge, quality engineer II, CUNO Inc. (a 3M company), Meriden
• Megan Gebhardt, business performance manager, Pfizer, Inc., New London
• Marguerite Gildea, manager of clinical operations, Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford
• Kim Kalajainen, vice president and chief information officer, Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, New London
• Dana Kaplinski, transportation product manager, UTC Power, South Windsor
• Lea Kennard, senior methods engineer, Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford
• Jeanne Larsen, manager, software engineering, Hamilton Sundstrand, Windsor Locks
• Heewon Lee, associate director, chemical development, and head of analytical process, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield
• Elsie Mathews, director of data operations, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wallingford
• Brenda Nuhfer, general manager, Hamilton Sundstrand, Windsor Locks
• Beth Rafferty, engineering supervisor, Overhaul and Repair Availabilities, General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton
• Cathy Smith, manager, VIRGINIA Class Submarine Program, General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton

 

Research Innovation and Leadership

• Rebecca Boyd, senior director and head, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Clinical Pharmacology, Pfizer Global Research & Development, Groton
• Molly Brewer, associate professor, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington
• Donna Flavin, founder and CEO, The Foundation for Collaborative Medicine and Research, Greenwich
• Christine Grygon, executive director, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield
• Mallika Gummalla, principal engineer, United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford
• Diane Jorkasky, vice president of Global Clinical Research Operations, Pfizer, Inc., New London
• Liissa Kuhn, assistant professor, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington
• Anabella Villalobos, vice president, Neuroscience and Anti-bacterial Chemistry Research, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Groton

 

Small Business Innovation and Leadership

• Sally Cohn, executive vice president for Continuity Planning Services, CAPS Business Recovery Services, Shelton
• Judith Otton, principal, Advanced Decisions, Inc., Milford
• Gerri Potash, vice president, Advisory Services, Nerac, Inc., Tolland
• Leah Reimer, partner, Cantor Colburn LLP, Bloomfield
• Dr. Tracy Romano, senior vice president, Research & Zoological Operations, Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, Mystic

 

Youth Innovation and Leadership

• Malgorzata Dymerska, student, Consolidated School District of New Britain
• Anshika Kaushik, student, Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Fairfield
• Erica Pehmoeller, student, Southington High School
• Rebecca Reed, student, Newtown High School

 

Finalists were nominated by their peers and selected based on their professional experience, history of innovation, ability to think creatively and solve problems and demonstration of leadership. Students were judged on inventiveness and accomplishment in science and technology and academic achievement.

 

To view the full list of criteria, please visit CTC’s Web site, www.ct.org. Please contact Mike Scricca at (860) 289-0878, ext. 334 or mscricca@ct.org with questions regarding the program or awards dinner.

 

About the Connecticut Technology Council

The Connecticut Technology Council is the state’s industry association for the technology sector. CTC’s mission is to “connect people, ideas and opportunities to the global technology and innovation community.” CTC provides members with business assistance and specialized programs, in addition to promoting and supporting public policies that position Connecticut to have a globally recognized “culture of innovation” that helps attract great ideas and entrepreneurs to in turn develop new jobs and wealth for the state.