Georgia’s Technology Leaders Raise More than $200,000 for Women in Technology

May 1, 2008 – ATLANTA – Women In Technology (WIT) announced today that its flagship fundraising event, WIT Connect '08, held last evening at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, raised more than $200,000 to support the initiatives of WIT and the WIT Foundation.

The 14^th annual event attracted more than 400 attendees from the Georgia business and technology community. During several silent and live auctions, companies and individuals placed bids for one-on-one meetings with more than 40 of Georgia’s top decision-makers.  This year's executives are responsible for allocating more than $3.5 billion in budgets, illustrating the value for any company to meet these individuals face-to-face.

Companies participating in the live auction included veterans, AutoTrader.com, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Equifax, IHG and SunTrust, as well as newcomers, McKesson and Turner Broadcasting System.

“WIT Connect is a great annual event and Delta Technology was proud to participate and raise a record amount to help support the advancement of women in the technology industry,” said Harry Richardson, vice president of the Governance, Systems Operation, Information Security and Privacy Office for Delta Technology. “Delta is looking forward to a bright, long-lasting future, and technology will be critical in creating America's premier global airline."

Seven-time WIT Connect attendee Pyramid Consulting Inc. , a global IT services company, successfully bid for a meeting package with their customer, IHG. “Being a current customer, we wanted to enhance our relationship, have time with their executives and their thinking process, so this is going to help us,” said Namita Tirath, vice president of Sales and Marketing, and a WIT member for the past 12 years.

Event emcees, radio personality Leslie Fram and humorist Jeff Justice, kept the crowd entertained and the evening’s events moving. New this year was a raffle giveaway. Prizes included an autographed baseball and bat from Atlanta Braves right-fielder Jeff Francoeur, an all-inclusive weekend stay for two at Forrest Hills Resort, a top 100 private resort in Dahlonega, and a humor-coaching package from Justice.

"This year’s event was very successful, both in facilitating meetings with Atlanta’s technology elite in a fun, spirited auction format, and in raising necessary dollars to fund all of WIT’s year-long programs and philanthropic activities. WIT couldn’t make a difference in the community without the generous support of Georgia’s technology community,” said WIT Connect ’08 Co-Chair Anna Convery, senior vice president of Marketing and Product Management, Nexidia.

About Women in Technology (WIT)

WIT is a not-for-profit organization made up of an influential community of diverse, talented professional women focused on promoting the advancement of women in the field of technology in Georgia. WIT’s monthly meetings feature nationally recognized speakers who address topics on leadership and professional advancement to support women in their technology careers while also providing a valuable networking opportunity. WIT delivers programs, such as WIT Executive Coaching and WIT Careers in Action to enable members to hone their leadership skills and achieve visibility within the business community.

WIT’s philanthropic and educational programs, such as Girls Get IT, provide outreach to educate and encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in science and technology. WIT has two annual premier events, WIT Connect, WIT’s annual fundraiser event and WIT’s Women of the Year in Technology Awards honoring the women who lead Georgia’s technology community. WIT is a founding society of the Technology Association of Georgia, an umbrella membership organization that serves the Georgia technology community. For more information on WIT and the WIT Foundation, WIT’s philanthropic arm, visit www.witinc.org.

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Media Inquiries Contact:
Anne Wainscott-Sargent
WIT PR Chair
678.352.0009
anne@annewainscott.com