Monthly Networking
Join the Monthly Networking session. A guest facilitator will speak on a hot topic in the first half and the second half will be a guided networking opportunity. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to contribute to the conversation. You’ll spend an hour making new connections and building relationships in a fun setting with like-minded Women in STEM.
Monthly Networking
May Speaker
Wally Ann McClain-Rodriguez
May 14, 2024 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
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Join Wally Ann McClain-Rodriguez, Account Manager at TEKsystems as she shares her own experience of transitioning from college to a professional career! In her guided conversation titled, “Be a 10”, she walks us through the top 10 lessons she’s learned along the way. Her lessons are inspired and validated by her almost 10 years in the IT staffing and services industry, where she’s impacted hundreds of technical professionals and clients in Central PA and beyond. She’s also currently putting these lessons to the test as her sister, a May 2024 graduate, goes through her own college to career transition. Whether you are starting out or looking to elevate your career, “Be a 10” will give you plenty of insight to inform your next steps!
2024 Past Monthly Networking Speakers
March Speaker
Jessica Hoffman, CISSP
March 12, 2024 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
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This month’s guided conversation entitled, “When Is It Okay to Say ‘No’?,” will be led by Jessica Hoffman, CISSP, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer & HIPAA Security Officer, City of Philadelphia.
Saying no is not always easy, but it’s a skill worth cultivating. By setting boundaries, prioritizing our needs, and communicating assertively, we can create a life that aligns with our values and aspirations. Remember, saying no is not a rejection; it’s a declaration of self-respect and a pathway to a more balanced and fulfilling existence.
About Jessica – Jessica has over 15 years of IT experience and over 10 years in cybersecurity. Eight of those years were served at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in various IT roles that were instrumental in the Affordable Healthcare Act and Federally Facilitated Marketplace roll outs. She has dedicated her career to safeguarding millions of Americans’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Protected Healthcare Information (PHI), and Federal Tax Information (FTI). These data sets are of great interest to advocacies attempting to mine or exploit our data for political, and/or financial gain. Jessica has taught several cybersecurity classes at Harrisburg University, NuPaths, and The Pennsylvania State University. She is also a professional photographer, a committee member on the Blacks in Cybersecurity Mentorship program, and loves the Broad Street Market.
February Speaker
Preetha Ram, PhD, MBA
February 13th, 2024 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
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This month’s guided conversation entitled, “Building Your Personal Board,” will be led by Preetha Ram, PhD, MBA.
What is a Personal Board of Advisors? Why do you need one? How will it help you in your career? How does it differ from a corporate board? And how is it similar? How do you build one?
Dr. Preetha Ram, Managing Partner at Pier 70 Ventures (formerly Associate Dean for Science at Emory University), will explore the 4 R’s Framework:, “Recognize, Reach-out, Reflect and Return” with the audience. Preetha is a fierce advocate for Women in STEM. She mentors tirelessly and invests in as many women entrepreneurs as she can!
Connect with her on LinkedIn and get the conversation started: https://www.linkedin.com/in/preetharam/
About Preetha – An award winning thought leader who has gained recognition for driving innovation towards measurable outcomes in a variety of environments. With operational experience, cross cutting industry knowledge, and investment experience, she is Managing Partner at Pier 70 Ventures, investing in startups creating the Future of Health. She is a full-stack mentor, and a firm supporter of #womeninSTEM, and #femalefounders.
January Speaker
Dr. Bili Mattes
January 23rd, 2024 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
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Come join Dr. Bili Mattes, Executive Director of STEM-UP Network, for a spirited “New Year Confidence Kick-Off!” We’ll delve into the confidence gap frequently encountered by women, exchange experiences and strategies, and focus on establishing a goal for ourselves (and each other) in the upcoming year. Let’s cultivate the confidence to step up, step in, or even step out. It’s set to be an excellent start to 2024!
About Dr. Mattes
Bili Mattes has over twenty-five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education administration, academic outreach, and program innovation and development.
2023 Past Monthly Networking Speakers
December Speaker Lesli Kunkle
December 12, 2023 12:00- 1:00 PM
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November Speaker Jimetta Colston
November 7, 2023 12:00- 1:00 PM
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October Speaker Dr. Bili Mattes
October 10, 2023 12:00- 1:00 PM
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This month’s guided conversation entitled, “Doing a (slightly) Deeper Dive into Confidence – How do we get it, grow it, or get it back?,” will be led by Dr. Bili Mattes, Executive Director, STEM-UP Network.
Let’s start a conversation about the confidence gap which, in super simple terms, poses that men are typically more confident than women regardless of competency. What is the evidence and impact of this gap? What do we need to know about it? What can we do about it? What impact does confidence (or lack thereof) have for us? How do we find and continue to increase confidence and rise above stereotypes and natural (or society-induced) tendencies in male-dominated industries, organizations, and fields? We’ll never cover and solve this in 30 minutes, but let’s start the conversation together.
About Dr. Bili Mattes:
As of the summer 2023, Bili is the full-time Executive Director of STEM-UP Network, a social enterprise powered by HarrisburgU. The STEM-UP Network addresses the workforce and gender gap in STEM. The STEM-UP team and community work directly with women in STEM to provide them with real-world strategies and opportunities to build their professional networks and relationships, to mentor and be mentored, to develop their leadership and career skills, and to navigate and advance their careers.
STEM-UP specifically targets college students, early career faculty, and early career alumna with its work; and engages more experienced women in STEM professions as mentors, facilitators, and speakers.
Bili has over thirty years of progressively responsible experience in higher education leadership, administration, academic outreach, and program innovation and development. Bili just celebrated her 16-year anniversary at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology where she served as Provost and Chief Academic Officer until July 2023. Harrisburg University is a young STEM-focused institution of higher education built on a competency-based and technology-integrated educational model. As Provost, she was responsible for all aspects of academic and student affairs at the university to include development of all new academic programs and approvals; recruitment and supervision of faculty; oversight of curriculum, academic policy, and student success. Prior to being appointed Provost, Bili served HarrisburgU as Associate Provost for Strategic Markets and was responsible for academic outreach, as well as program development at the University.
Prior to joining higher education, her professional background was in training and development with business and industry.
Bili received the 2018 Moxie Award from the Women in Technology Group of the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania in recognition of the STEM-UP Network’s contributions to workforce development and gender equity in STEM professions. The Network and University were also recognized by Insights Into Diversity Magazine with its Inspiring Program in STEM Award. Bili was named a Woman of Influence by the Central Penn Business Journal and, along with her colleagues, was recognized by the Whitaker Center Women in STEM awards.
September Speaker Jennifer Mowery
September 12, 2023 12:00- 1:00 PM
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- Understanding Design Thinking: Introduce the concept of design thinking and how it can be applied to improve your digital presence and problem-solving skills in the digital era.
- Building an Effective Digital Presence: Explore strategies to create and maintain a compelling online presence, including personal branding, social media etiquette, and leveraging digital platforms for professional growth.
- Navigating Challenges: Address the unique challenges women may face in the digital space and provide practical tips on overcoming them, fostering inclusivity, and thriving in STEM careers.
May Speaker Angela Churchill
May 10, 2023 11:00 AM-Noon
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Angela Churchill is the Senior Director of Marketing, Operations & Business Analytics for Comcast Business, Keystone Region. In this unique role, Angela brings together and leads the strategic direction of the local marketing, analytics, operations and sales coach teams to create one cohesive and balanced approach to how Comcast Business grows its footprint, in scope and brand, while mobilizing the sales teams to capture market share and revenue growth.
Before joining Comcast in 2012, Angela held positions as the general manger of the event division for the international publication AMM (American Metal Market) , the marketing and event manager for Fortune 500 company WESCO and as the marketing manager of PLB Sports.
Angela is a 2001 summa cum laude graduate of Robert Morris College where she double majored in Sports Management and Marketing. She is currently a member of the RMU Sport Management and the STEM-UP Network Advisory Boards.
In her personal time, Angela is a strong supporter of pediatric cancer awareness and fundraising.
April Speaker Moriah Hathaway
April 12, 2023 11:00 AM-Noon
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March Speaker Heike Martin
March 8th, 2023 11:00 AM
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Plan to spend time making new connections and building relationships in a fun setting with like-minded Women in STEM. We spend a little more time on self-introductions so others can get to know more about you too!
Networking and a guided conversation around a specific topic led by a guest facilitator. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to contribute to the conversation.
March’s Guided Conversation is “Finding Your Voice and Brand and Owning Your Visibility” led by Heike Martin, Owner and Lead Photographer of Heike Photography.
“Owning Your Visibility” is at the core of Heike Martin’s vision and mission as owner and lead photographer at Heike Martin Photography. She is the author of “Owning Our Game: Female athlete stories of strength, beauty and athleticism”.
Combining curiosity, creativity and expert photography skills Heike helps busy, focused and soulful female professionals grow their impact and profits with intentional visual storytelling. Drawing on 17 years of fair trade marketing experience, Heike’s photography centers joy and a celebration of self.
To help women shift their perspective, Heike regularly speaks about visibility and branding—in her trademark German accent—for networking groups, panels, and podcasts.
Heike Martin Photography offers both headshots and lifestyle branding photography at her studio in Manheim, PA and on location.
February Speaker Fara Francis
February 8, 2023 from 11am-Noon
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Fara Francis is the Chief Information Officer for the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) – a top-ranked, global provider of leadership development. CCL’s human-centered approach to leadership creates a fertile space for executing on forward-looking frameworks to make the right decisions in selecting and deploying value-add tools, systems, and platforms to advance the mission. Prior to CCL, she served as Chief Information Officer for ASCD, where she contributed thought leadership and spearheaded the strategic implementation of technology solutions to effectively service over 100,000 global association members. Prior roles include CIO for AGC of America, and Senior Technology Consultant and Manager for both Grant Thornton, LLP and BroadPoint Technologies. Fara is PMP Certified and holds an Executive Leadership Certificate in Strategy and Innovation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management, and an M.B.A. in Finance from Marymount University. She serves on the Board of the Society for Information Management (SIM) Capital Area (DC) Chapter and as an Advisory Member for the SIM National Chapter Advisory Board. Fara enjoys encouraging and inspiring uplifting others to pursue their dreams and goals.
January Speaker Sola Adesida
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 from 11am-Noon
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Art and Science of Networking Presented by Sola Adesida
Sola Adesida, Executive Director, Enterprise IT Resiliency, Kaiser Permanente
Sola Adesida is the Executive Director of Enterprise IT Resiliency. She oversees resiliency initiatives (Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity, and Crisis Management) for Kaiser Permanente’s IT organization.
Before the Resiliency and Recovery Services team, she worked for Kaiser Permanente Program Offices, serving as a managing director. Before that, she held several other internal roles across the enterprise in strategic execution, executive engagement, portfolio management, regulatory compliance, technology management, and process optimization.
Before her time at KP, Sola worked for several consulting companies, where she built her leadership skills and workforce development. She holds a master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Southern California and another master’s degree in Technology Management from Georgetown University.