Group helps women thrive in technology professions

DENVER ? Colorado women in technology were hungry for a networking group that provided them with community and mentoring. A consultant in the business stepped up to the plate.

Ellen Schulz of Denver-based Next Level Results Inc. said last year by accident, she was at a meeting of the national organization of Women in Technology Inc. (WITI) and liked what she heard. In September, a Colorado chapter was formed, and she became the regional director.

“Our members are highly-skilled, professional women from male-dominated companies who are at home with technology issues and want to talk about them,” Schulz said. “But mostly, we want a fun atmosphere in which to network.”

The Colorado chapter provides that. Meetings are always fun and done well, according to Schulz. Depending on which company sponsors the meeting, they are held every other month on the odd-number month at different locations. The sponsor supplies the meeting space, and the organization schedules speakers.

“Our meetings cover a wide variety of technology-related subjects ? using technology as a tool, current trends and issues and management and technology,” Schulz said.

Meetings are open to all women interested in technology or pursuing careers in the field. September’s meeting had a panel of women in jobs director-level and above who told how they got there.

“November’s speakers will discuss using technology in investing,” Schulz said. Andrea Guzik, vice president of information technology for application development at Janus Funds in Denver, and Lisa Herhold, vice president and branch manager for the Englewood branch of Charles Schwab and Company Inc., will address how to research track and trade investment information via the Internet.

“Even-numbered months are mixers when we get together and just talk,” Schulz said. Food is always served at both the meetings and the mixers.

“I love that Shaker saying that goes something like, ?People become friends when they share a shaker of salt,'” she said. “Whether it’s sandwiches, hors d’oeuvres or munchies, we share food and talk.”

Schulz said the Colorado chapter has dozens of members, and about 65 people attend each meeting. Most of the members are in their 20s and 30s.

Roslyn F. Green, a new WITI member, had known about the group for some time. When she moved here from California and heard that WITI was starting a Colorado chapter, she decided to join.

Green is director of channel management/business development for Boulder e-book developer netLibrary. She works with the K-12 academic market as a liaison between netLibrary and its distributors.

Green said she decided to join WITI because she had been in the high-tech industry for awhile and it (WITI) is a good resource for women in technology. She now serves on the group’s foundation committee and its special events committee.

The local chapter and the national organization is a business-centered group with a mission of advancing women in technology and helping them gain recognition for their achievements. It supports and encourages women’s professional and personal development. The theme for this year is New Directions and New Connections.

Ongoing programs include the WITI Hall of Fame, Women in Science and Technology Month and Take Your Children On The Internet Week. Some of the benefits are a newsletter, a job database, a listserve and discounts to conferences, for car rentals and for IBM products and computer classes.

Management and professional women are not the only ones who gravitate toward the WITI group. Students, women in their first job and sales executives also want the community and mentoring.

“We plan to have a program every year, in addition to ongoing mentoring,” Schulz said. Last year’s program, which Schulz presented without charge to WITI members, consisted of three meetings.

The first considered “who you are,” a person’s behavior styles and values. The second determined “where you want to go,” a person’s vision and goals.

“I asked them to tell me a story of what an ideal day would be and what life they wanted,” Schulz said. The third meeting looked at “how to get where you want to be,” a person’s performance that will produce the desired result.

“We have to reach our hands out to other women, especially in technology fields. Mentoring makes it easier, and that’s what WITI is trying to do,´ said Linda McCrerey, the public relations contact for WITI in Colorado.

Next January, another coaching and mentoring program will be discussed with the meetings scheduled for February, March and April. For information about the program or WITI, visit the group’s Web site at www.witi.org or call Schulz at (303) 660-5668.

on Facebook on LinkedIn