Digital Rochester announces 2018 Technology Woman of the Year nominees
Digital Rochester Inc. recently announced the nominees for its 2018 Technology Woman of the Year Award. Technology Woman of the Year is designed to recognize, celebrate, and make visible the achievements of women in high technology fields.
New this year is the Emerging Technology Professional Woman of the Year award, lauding professionals with fewer than five years in an individual contributor or leadership role. These awards are designed to recognize, celebrate, and make visible the achievements of women in high technology fields.
Through these awards, women who work in technology professions are encouraged to stay in the Greater Rochester area, mentor young women, and contribute to the economic growth of the region.
Technology Woman of the Year Nominees:
- Manuela Campanelli, Director, Center for Computational Relativity & Gravitation, Rochester Institute of Technology
- Gayle DeRose, Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President, L-Tron Corporation
- April Devaux, Professor, Computing Sciences Chairperson, Finger Lakes Community College
- Alice Durie, Director, Service Delivery and Desktop Support, Rochester Regional Health
- Heather Fry, Director, Product Development, Paychex
- Wendi Heinzelman, Dean of Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Rochester
- Sheila Herbert, Product Innovation Lead, ITX Corporation
- Susan Kavanagh, Senior eDiscovery Consultant, KLDiscovery
- Dhireesha Kudithipudi, Professor, Graduate Program Chair, and Director of the NanoComputing Research Lab, Rochester Institute of Technology
- Sujatha Ramanujan, Managing Director, Luminate
- Sue Sorrentino, Founder & Executive Director, Vista Teach Instructional Services, Incorporated
- Alexis Vogt, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Endowed Chair, Optical Systems Technology, Monroe Community College
Emerging Technology Professional Woman of the Year Nominees:
- Cora Conklin, Vice President, Data Management Organization, Constellation Brands
- Carolyn Cossavella, Senior Engineering Manager, Harris Corporation
- Heather Gallant, VIP Support Supervisor, Datto, Incorporated
- Abigail Hatch Nikolevski, Product Manager for the Digital Platform Experience, Paychex
- Deb Schleede, Community Growth Manager, CloudCheckr
- Kristen Seversky, Co-Chapter Leader for Rochester’s Chapter, Girl Develop It
- Heather Smith-Schmitz, Director, Motion Lab and Senior Lecturer, 3D Graphics Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology – National Technical Institute for the Deaf
“It is a privilege for Digital Rochester to honor this year’s nominees and their contributions to not just the tech industry, but to the community as well,” said Lisa Doerner, Executive Director of Digital Rochester. “We are thrilled to have added a second category this year, to celebrate emerging technology professionals and honor the great accomplishments they have made early in their careers.”
Evaluation and judging criteria for the award are based on sustained contributions to the technology profession, contributions advancing the status, opportunities, and employment for women in the technology professions, and contributions to the community.
A breakfast awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 a.m. at Locust Hill Country Club. The ceremony will feature keynote speaker, Carey Anne Nadeau, Founder and CEO of Open Data Nation, presenting “From Girlpower to Ladyboss.”
Tickets are $45 for DR members and $50 for nonmembers. To register for the event, click here.