Women In Technology Announces Finalists and Honorees for Upcoming Women of the Year in Technology Awards Presented by Grant Thornton

August 18, 2008 - ATLANTA - Women in Technology (WIT) is announcing today the individuals selected as finalists for the ninth annual Women of the Year in Technology Awards presented by Grant Thornton. The finalists were announced at the VIP reception on Aug. 14. The awards gala will be held on Sept. 18, 2008.

The finalists in the enterprise business category are:

• Mary Ann Green, vice president of Airline Operations Systems, Delta Technology/Delta Air Lines;
• Marianne Johnson, senior vice president of Global Technology New Product Innovation, Equifax, Inc.; and
• Deborah Kelso-Jenkins, vice president of Strategy and Operational Excellence, InterContinental Hotels Group.

The finalists in the medium business category are:

• Theresa Brunasso, principal engineer & director of Technology Development, EMS Technologies, Defense & Space Systems;
• Debbie Everidge, Vice President, Information Technology, Sciele Pharma, Inc.; and
• Jo Ram, chief operating officer and vice president of Product Development, Indusa Global, LLC.

The finalists in the small business category are:

• Nadia Butler, chief executive officer, president and co-founder, ESi;
• Lynn Do, president and chief executive officer, Renovo Data, Inc.; and
• Radhika Subramanian, chief executive officer, Emcien Corporation.

Finalists for the Women of the Year in Technology Award will participate in an interview conducted by the 2008 Women of the Year Award judging panel focusing on each finalist’s accomplishments within their organization, in the community and in the important role of mentor to other women. The judges then select the winner in each category based on the merit of their applications and the strength of their interviews.

“The finalists and honorees for each category for the 2008 Women of the Year in Technology Awards are outstanding, accomplished leaders in the field,” says Judi Vitale, president of Women in Technology. “It will be a challenge for the judges to narrow the field of finalists to just three winners out of all these very qualified women.”

More than 40 women were honored by being nominated as a Woman of the Year in Technology. In addition to finalists listed above, the 2008 honorees are:

Enterprise Businesses

• Laurie Dean Baird, Director, Technology Partnerships—Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc.
• Loretta Cecil, SVP and General Counsel—McKesson Technology Solutions
• Darien Chimoff, Help Center Manager—Alston & Bird LLP
• Anne Cooney, Vice President Power Conservation Division —Siemens Energy & Automation Inc.
• Lajuana Earwood, Director IT Mainframe Systems—Norfolk Southern
• Kathy Fleck, Director—Deloitte LLP
• Tracy Garner, VP, Core Installation & Maintenance, AT&T SE—AT&T
• Michele Gehl, Director-CBS Technical Ops—Sprint Nextel Corporation
• Noni Gonzalez, AVP, Corp Sys, Mobility—AT&T
• Prudence Green, Vice President of Client Services-Xerox Mortgage Services (XMS)—Xerox
• Mary Ann Green, VP Airline Operations Systems—Delta Technology/Delta Air Lines
• Simone Harrison, VP Business Development—Scientific Games
• Amy Hassinger, Director, PMO Ops, Prof Services—Verint
• Kristin Howlett, Director Process Improvement—Dekalb County Government
• Marianne Johnson, SVP, Global Technology New Product Innovation—Equifax, Inc.
• Shannon Johnston, Executive Director, Global Infrastructure Services—CompuCredit Corporation
• Deborah Kelso-Jenkins, Vice President, Strategy & Operational Excellence—InterContinental Hotels Group
• Lynda Lyons, Program Director—Manhattan Associates
• Debbie McKeen, VP Support Operations, Americas—Infor
• Lara Morrison, SVP, Global Solutions Delivery—Elavon
• Kitty Murphy, Global Head, ERP—CibaVision
• Bahija Noell, VP, Information Technology—AFLAC
• Terrie O'Hanlon, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer—Manhattan Associates
• Yamini Vellore, Senior Director—Manhattan Associates

Medium Businesses

• Theresa Brunasso, Principal Engineer & Director of Technology Development—EMS Technologies, Defense & Space Systems
• Karin Bursa, VP, Marketing—Logility
• Debbie K. Everidge, Senior Director IT - NW Operations—Sciele Pharma, Inc.
• Gina Gallo, President—Stratix Corporation
• Rita Holcombe, Director of IT—Rogers & Hardin LLP
• Jo Ram, COO, VP Product Development—Indusa Global, LLC
• Vicki Sewell, SVP, Client Services & Support—Inovis

Small Businesses

• Anne Bailey, CFO—VCG, LLC
• Carrie Bates, Director of Corporate Relations—TechBridge
• Nadia Butler, CEO, President, & Co-Founder—Esi
• Terry Coleman, Director of Customer Support—Connecture, Inc.
• Lynn Do, President & CEO—Renovo Data, Inc.
• Tammy Farley, Principal—The Rainmaker Group
• Susan Gilbert, President, CEO & Co-Founder—APOGEE Interactive, Inc.
• Susan Hrib, CEO—Signum Group LLC
• Lisa Jones, Chief EyeMail Officer—EyeMail, Inc.
• Sue Ellen Reager, CEO—@International Services
• Radhika Subramanium, CEO—Emcien Corp

Grant Thornton LLP is the presenting sponsor of the Awards. “The success and commitment of these honorees and finalists to leading their companies and young women toward careers in technology is a wonderful motivator for all professional women,“ says Lori Turbé, Atlanta partner and Women@Grant Thornton leader. “The women and entire staff of Grant Thornton join me in saying ‘Congratulations!’”

Additional sponsors include Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, the Gold Sponsor of the event; Silver Sponsors ING, What’s Up Interactive and NPI; the Media Sponsor is the Atlanta Business Chronicle; with CarterBaldwin participating as the sponsor of the VIP reception held on Aug. 14.

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 Mentoring Circles 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.

####

Contact:
Amy M. Dawson
678.357.2630