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Addressing the under-representation of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), while also encouraging women to excel in these fields is the driving pursuit of the 2018 Women & Technology Conference, to be held on Monday, Sept. 10th at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Charleston, event organizers announced.

To register for the event, click here.

“This year’s Women & Technology Conference will feature a host of inspiring women leaders, like Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Carroll Thomas, Director of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Mary Anne Ketelsen, owner of Mister Bee in Parkersburg, offering real world experience and boots-on-the-ground strategies for growing in the tech economy,” said Anne Barth, executive director of TechConnect West Virginia.

Barth said the event will cover a variety of important topics, to include:

• How to empower women mentors and protégées;
• The rise of women in manufacturing;
• Addressing the gender gap in startup investing;
• Promoting gender diversity in the technology workplace.

Event presenters include:

• Carroll Thomas, Director of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce;
• Afrin Naz, WVU Beckley Campus;
• Hannah Payne, WV State University;
• Sue Ann Heatherly, Green Bank Observatory;
• Heather Cyphert, Precision Tool & Progressive Industries;
• Angie Cowger, Custard Stand Chili;
• Maryanne Ketelsen, Mister Bee;
• Yvonne Campos, Next Act Fund;
• Marion Lewis, BoardBookIt;
• Teresa Whalen, Next Act Fund Investor/Angel;
• Zachary T. Abraham, AlignHR, LLC;
• Meshea Poore, Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, WVU.

TechConnect West Virginia will host the Spirit of Innovations Awards during the event luncheon.  Honorees will be awarded with the Outstanding Woman in Technology Award, Innovative Manufacturer of the Year Award and The Phoenix Award.  Later in the event, a lightning pitch contest will be conducted where the audience will vote on which pitch presentation receives awards.

“Women working in technology fields as well as those interested in pursuing, or migrating to, a technology-focused career are encouraged to attend the event,” said Barth.  “In addition, anyone interested in exploring ways to bridge the tech gender gap and inspire future generations of girls to pursue STEM fields should also consider joining us.”

The 2018 Women & Technology Conference is hosted by TechConnect West Virginia and sponsored by: Marshall University, The High Technology Foundation, WV Higher Education Policy Commission Division of Science & Research, West Virginia University, Mylan, Altice-Suddenlink, NASA WV Space Grant Consortium, WV Executive Magazine, WV Jobs Investment Trust, WVU Women’s Business Center, KeyLogic, WV Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Allegheny Science & Technology, BrickStreet Insurance, Chancellor’s Office of the WV Higher Education Policy Commission and the University of Charleston.

To register, visit www.techconnectwv.org or click here. For additional information, contact Anne Barth at (304) 444-2918 or anne@techconnectwv.org.

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