HOUSTON, March 30, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The InterContinental Houston location will be the home of the 6th Annual Gala dinner and reception honoring 22 Academic and Business women in Houston with the Leadership in Technology Award issued by the Houston Chapter of the national Association for Women in Computing (AWC: www.awchouston.org). AWC has many reasons to celebrate. This year's celebration includes not only another impressive line-up of women technology leaders, but also marks the 25th anniversary of the Association for Women in Computing.
Over the years AWC has recognized over 100 business and academic women throughout Houston. This year's winners - twenty-two women from eleven companies - are announced today. The Gala dinner and reception takes place at the InterContinental Houston Hotel on June 12, 2004. HP, BMC, Shell, Microsoft, Houston Business Journal and Dell are generous sponsors of this year's event. Carol Limperos of the Limperos Group will be the Master of Ceremonies.
The 2002 Catalyst Census of Women Corporate Officers and Top Earners in the Fortune 500 report that women represent an average 11 percent of the top leadership in the largest 21 employers headquartered in Houston. In those same companies, as much as 23 percent of top officer positions are held by women. The national average of women corporate officers is 15.7%.
"We are proud of the women in Houston who continue to prove that women are successful and make a difference in the top echelons of corporate America. Our honorees are stellar examples of superior leadership, presence and confidence, this year's Gala theme. They set a high standard for the future," states Dawn Fitzgerald, 2004 Gala Chair.
In 2003, Houston Gala guests, including business and political leaders, celebrated to a sold out crowd of more than 500 supporters of women in technology. This year more than 500 people are anticipated. Proceeds support the Kathi Bowles Scholarship for college students pursuing degrees in technology at Houston area universities.
"We are delighted by the steady increase of interest and support in the AWC Gala. We are grateful for the civic and community support which allows us to give scholarships to college students," added Dawn.
Below are listed the 2004 Honorees of the Leadership in Technology Award and their employers:
Emily Agis-Wahl, Vice President Product Operations & Production Services - BMC Software, Inc.
Cindy Brannon, Director, TCE - Hewlett Packard
Kristy Watkins Bride, Director - Hewlett Packard
Janice Cherry, Manager, Web Strategy - BMC Software, Inc.
Paula Conroy, Director - Global Professional Accounting Services - Hewlett Packard
Suzhanna Dahle, Vice President of Information Technology - DXP Enterprises, Inc.
Sherry Elrod Manzano, Director of Latin America Product Solutions Center - Hewlett Packard
Elizabeth Fleming, Facilities Portfolio Manager - Shell International Exploration and Production, Inc.
Missy Fredrickson, Vice President- JP Morgan Chase
Betty Fruin, Manager Service Delivery - Shell Oil Products US
Kathy Hawkins, Senior Vice President - JP Morgan Chase
Lorri Henry, Sr. Consultancy Manager, Applications Development - Shell IT International
Susan Houck Hardin, President & CEO - VisiGen Biotechnologies, Inc.
Gail Kelly, Director - Hewlett Packard
Cindy Kiemsteadt, Director - Hewlett Packard
Alicia Lohman, Principal Director - AT Kearney
Hanna Lukosavich, Vice President and Chief Information Officer - Resolution Performance Products
Victoria McMillen, Design Support Engineering Manager - Texas Instruments Incorporated
Connie Spiess, Vice President, Supply Chain Integrated Solutions - Hewlett Packard
Trudy Stetzler, Senior Member of Technical Staff - Texas Instruments Incorporated
Kelly Sumners, LiveQuest Technical Manager - Schlumberger Information Solutions
Leslie Warren, Sr. Business Consultant - Schlumberger Information Solutions
Gala tickets can be purchased by the public at http://www.awchouston.org.
About the Association for Women in Computing (AWC)
The National organization was formed in 1978 to encourage women in technology-related careers. The Houston chapter is among the largest and oldest in the country.
For additional information, please contact Tracy Rummel, 713.294.9888 or tracy@brandsoup.com.
The Association for Women in Computing logo can be found at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=975