2006 Winners

2006 Enterprise Business

2006 Small/Medium Business

2006 Not for Profit/Public Sector

Past Winners

2005 Winners

2007 Winners

2006 Winners

2006 WIT's Women of the Year in Technology winners were announced at the awards dinner held on April 27, 2006 at the TWELVE Atlantic Station.

In 2005, the Women of the Year in Technology Award was extended from one to three categories. These categories reflect the growth of the Award program and recognize the unique challenges, opportunities and achievements of women in each type of business environment.

• 2006 Finalists

2006 Award Categories:

• Enterprise Business
  
  Nominees for the Enterprise Business category are involved with the large companies in Georgia. These companies do not need to be based in Georgia, but they do need to have a Georgia presence. Companies falling into this category have $500M or more in annual revenue.

• Small/Medium Business
  
  Nominees for the Small/Medium Business category are involved with small and medium companies in Georgia. These companies may be either based in Georgia or based elsewhere but have a Georgia presence. Companies falling into this category have under $500M in annual revenue.

• Not for Profit/Public Sector
  
  Nominees for the Not for Profit/Public Sector category are involved with organizations in the government (federal, state, or local), educational, or charitable sector. Size of the organization is not relevant to this category, which may include nominees from organizations ranging from government, to universities, to healthcare or research groups, to charities.

2006 Winner - Enterprise Business

Susan Grant
Executive Vice President
CNN

Susan Grant is Executive Vice President of CNN News Services, a business unit consisting of CNN Business Operations, CNN.com, CNN Content Sales/Business Development, CNN Newsource Sales, CNNRadio and Turner Learning.  Susan oversees all distribution, sales and affiliate relations, marketing, business affairs and public relations for these groups.

Before being promoted to her new position, Susan was president of CNN Newsource Sales and Turner Learning.  She has overseen CNN Newsource Sales' growth in affiliates from 250 to nearly 800 local news-producing stations, securing access to breaking news footage from across North America.  Susan has also served as President of Turner Program Services (TPS), responsible for the domestic syndication sales and marketing for the company's television programming and was Executive Vice President responsible for all sales and marketing activities.

Before joining TPS in June 1994, Susan spent eight years with Columbia TriStar Television Distrbution, While at Columbia, Susan served as vice president, Southeast region, responsible for marketing and selling such syndication hits as Who's the Boss?, Married... With Children, Seinfeld and Ricki Lake.  She joined Columbia TriStar, then Embassy Communications, in 1986 as an account executive before becoming vice president in 1988.

Prior to her roles at Columbia, Susan worked eight years with TBS, serving in various capacities throughout the organization.  A CNN original, she was the first director of public relations in 1980, helping to launch the global news network and later assuming the position of CNN marketing manager.  In 1981, Susan moved into sales as a regional manager for Turner Cable Network Sales (TCNS) for the Southeast region.  She was later promoted to national accounts manager and was ultimately promoted to director of regional sales for TCNS, a position she held until 1985.

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2006 Winner - Small/Medium Business

Wendy Reed
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
InfoMentis

Wendy Reed is the Founder and CEO of Infomentis.  Under Wendy's direction, the company continues to experience tremendous growth and leadership in the skills training and consulting marketplace.

Prior to founding InfoMentis in 1996, Wendy worked for MSA (formerly Dun & Bradstreet Software), ViaSoft and Clarus where she held positions in sales, marketing, and sales management.  During her time at MSA, Wendy achieved Sales Club and President's Club recognition several years running.  In addition to managing a geographic territory, Wendy was also instrumental in managing and mentoring some of the industry's best sales professionals.  In her marketing role, she set strategy and direction for key products and technologies, as well as evaluated potential partners and acquisition targets.

Wendy also worked for Hayes Microcomputer Products where she was responsible for software selection, implementation and support.  She started her career in Information Technology at Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting), where she was responsible for implementing solutions for the healthcare, banking and manufacturing industries.

As a prominent industry speaker, Wendy has been asked to speak at numerous industry events including Microsoft's World Wide Partner Conference for the last three years, Oracle's Worldwide Leadership Forum, Technology Executive Round Table Events, TAG's Entrepreneurial Forums, WIT Events, Global Executive Woman and the High Tech CEO Council.  Additionally, she regularly participates in one-on-one lunches with other emerging local entrepreneurs.  Over the course of these lunches, she shares with them her experiences and insight into starting and running a successful business.

Wendy also serves on several boards such as AEA, Revegy, Inc. and Milton High School Athletic Association.

Wendy received a Bachelor's Degree in Computer-Based Management with a Minor in Communications from Clarkson University in 1984.

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2006 Winner - Not For Profit / Public Sector

Jannet Thoms
Assistant General Manager for Technology and
Customer Service Delivery / Chief Information Officer
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)

Jannet M. Thoms is the Assistant General Manager of Technology & Customer Service Delivery/CIO at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) in Atlanta, Georgia.  As MARTA's Chief Information Officer, Jannet is responsible for all technology programs and the overall management and direction of the Authority's technology investments.  She oversees all computer-based systems within the Authority, including Intelligence Transportation System and Central Control and is responsible for operating and capital budgets of approximately $100M.  Jannet also heads MARTA's Breeze Card Automated Fare Collection Program with a budget of $199M and chairs the Technology Steering Committee for all of the Authority's Programs.

Prior to joining MARTA, Jannet served as Vice President of Information Technology at Technology Plus Corporation, an IT solutions, staffing and consulting firm.  Responsible for the expansion and start up of the company, she led a team of IT Resource and Account Managers in the placement of IT professionals, managed the development and implementation of technology based consulting solutions, and developed ongoing technology plans for the firm.  She also served as Director of Information Technology for Halo Solutions managing a critical multi-million dollar global account and team of software developers, and as Associate Director of the BellSouth Corporation's E-Directory.

Jannet received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Memphis, a Masters of Science with a major in Business from Central Michigan University, and a Ph.D. from Nova Southeastern University with a major in Information Systems (dissertation pending).

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Past Winners
2005	Enterprise Business: Pamela Pure McKesson Corporation
	Small/Medium Business: Bonnie Herron Intelligent Systems Corporation
	Not for Profit/Public Sector: Elaine Mitchell Norman United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta
2004	Mylle Mangum International Banking Technologies
2003	Sue Powers Worldspan
2002	Elizabeth R. (Lee Lee) James Synovus Financial Corporation
2001	Joan Herbig XcelleNet
2000	Karen Robinson Prime Point Media

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