Women leaders in technology, science and engineering to be honored during January 20 awards dinner
The Connecticut Technology Council (CTC)’s Women of Innovation planning committee today announced the finalists for the sixth annual Women of Innovation awards program. This program recognizes women – those in the workforce and students – across Connecticut who are innovators, role models and leaders in their technology professions or fields of study.
The winner in each of the eight awards categories will be announced during the 2010 Women of Innovation Awards Dinner at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington on January 20.
“This year’s 2010 finalists represent another outstanding class of women innovators and leaders,” said Beth Alquist, chair of the planning committee for the Women of Innovation awards program. “They are outstanding professionals who serve as role models to their peers and women interested in pursuing challenging technology careers. These women also bring exceptional quantitative and management skills to their technical and science professions.”
This year’s list of 59 finalists includes researchers, educators, managers and entrepreneurs/business owners who work in biotech, pharmaceuticals, software, computer hardware, nanotech, advanced materials, medical devices and IT.
High school, undergraduate and graduate students who have demonstrated extraordinary and unique achievements in their technology studies are also among the finalists. The winner in the Youth Innovation and Leadership category will receive a scholarship from the Connecticut Technology Council.
The 2010 Women of Innovation awards finalists are, by category:
Academic Innovation and Leadership
Laurel Appel, adjunct associate professor of biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown
Sarah Berke, director, CURE Bioscience Explorations, New Haven
Carmen Cid, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic
Michele Dischino, assistant professor, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain
Marja Hurley, professor of medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington
Honora Kenney, president, Connecticut Invention Convention, Hartford
Linda Strausbaugh, professor, University of Connecticut, Storrs
Collegian Innovation and Leadership
Nupur Garg, medical student, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven
Jamie Maciaszek, graduate assistant, University of Connecticut, Storrs
Eliza McNitt, college student, NYU Tisch School, Greenwich
Vanessa Rubano, graduate student, Columbia University, Ridgefield
Emily Tao, college student, chemical, materials and bio-molecular engineering department, University of Connecticut, Storrs
Claire Weiss, doctoral student, materials science & engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs
Community Innovation and Leadership
Belinda Monat, vice president, project management, Computer Sciences Corporation, East Hartford
Noreen Randazzo, assistant vice president, IT, The Hartford, Southington
Seema Winsor, principal engineer, Pitney Bowes, Stamford
Entrepreneurial Innovation and Leadership
Phoebe Browning, CFO, YourNurseIsOn.com, New Haven
Kelly Conners, president, KC Healthcare Communications LLC, Norwalk
Heidi Douglas, founder, Nuventis LLC
Mary Gawlicki, president, Corporate Translations, Inc., East Hartford
Liddy Karter, managing director, Karter Capital Advisors, Old Lyme
Glennis Orloff, president & CEO, Samara Innovations, LLC, New Haven
Teresa Piliouras, president, Albright Associates, Inc., Weston
Kathryn Smith, COO, Synaptic Dynamics, Storrs
Eleanor Tandler, independent consultant, University of Connecticut Research and Development Corp., Farmington
Large Business Innovation and Leadership
Karen Alsante, research fellow, Pfizer, Groton
Jennifer Broom, manager of collaborative research, Covidien, North Haven
Kristin Colacchio, program manager, CSC (Computer Science Corporation), South Windsor
Susan DiMascio, program director, Advanced Technology Development, ATMI, Danbury,
Donna Grossman, mechanical engineering manager, Orion Program, Hamilton Sundstrand, Windsor Locks
Nicole Hade, manager, engineering business, Hamilton Sundstrand, Windsor Locks
Sheryl Hildner, IT director, GE Capital Americas, Danbury
Susan Johnston, director, customer service IT, Priceline.com, Norwalk,
Mary Lombardo, director, engineering director, Carrier Corporation, Farmington
Christine Marsh, vice president, business analysis, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield
Karen McNemar, Director, Office of Project Management, Covidien, North Haven
Darlene Nebinger, Senior R&D Engineer, Covidien, North Haven
Deborah Orosz, Manager, Engineering Effectiveness Aerospace Power Systems, Hamilton Sundstrand, Windsor Locks
Donna Ray, Principal Engineer, Hamilton Sundstrand, Windsor Locks
Jean Roche, Engineering Supervisor, Electric Boat Corporation, Groton
Research Innovation and Leadership
Katherine Ayers, director of research, Proton Energy Systems, Inc., Wallingford
Jean Beebe, executive director, Pfizer, New London
Dr. Tania Bhatia, research engineer, United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford
Baikun Li, assistant professor, University of Connecticut, Storrs
Jeanne Magram, vice president of immunology and inflammation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield
Diana Reeves, principal scientist, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield
Agnes Vignery, associate professor, orthopedics, Yale University, New Haven
Guiling Wang, associate professor, civil & environmental engineering and director, environmental engineering programs, University of Connecticut, Storrs
Small Business Innovation and Leadership
Margaret Bailey, vice president, Applications Software Development, Sonalysts, Inc., Waterford
Wynne Cerone, vice president of operations/chief technology officer, Imaging Solutions, Inc., Wallingford
Lixia Li, PhD, senior technologist, optics, Dark Field Technologies, Orange
Theresa McSpedon, vice president, services, Protegrity, Stamford
Julie Pellegrini, vice president, GraphLogic, Inc., Branford
Linda Stahl, director, strategic products, COCC, Avon
Youth Innovation and Leadership
Yi Feng, high school student, Farmington High School, Farmington
Sydney Hofer, high school student, GHAMAS, Hartford
Neeharika Krothapalli, high school student, Farmington High School, Farmington
Jenny Lu, high school student, Pomperaug High School, Southbury
Colleen Rock, high school student, Farmington High School, Farmington
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 learn more about the program, including recaps of past year’s events including bios about our Connecticut Women of Innovation, 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.