Thursday, February 20, 2025
Date: February 20, 2025
Cost: $75.00
Time: 5:00 PM- 9 PM
Location: Kidd Brewer Stadium, Grandview Ballroom, North Endzone Space
Calling all tech-savvy trailblazers! Join us for an empowering evening as we celebrate and uplift the brilliance of women in technology. Whether you're an aspiring techie, a seasoned pro, or simply passionate about technology, this event is for you! Come together to support and foster a thriving community of women in tech. Let's break barriers, shatter glass ceilings, and pave the way for a more inclusive tech future, and let's make history together!
Registration is now closed. If you need assistance, don't hesitate to contact Samantha Williams at williamsse11@appstate.edu or (828) 262-2034.
Women in Tech Schedule | ||||
| 5:00-5:30 Check-in, Networking & Drinks 5:30-5:35 Welcome-Samantha Williams, CIS Administrator 5:35-5:40 Introduction – Dr. Sandra Vannoy, Dean, Walker College of Business 5:40-6:20 KeyNote Address – Theresa Bethune, President InfoPathways 6:20-7:30 Dinner 7:30-8:30 Moderated Panel Discussion 8:30-9:00 Networking | ||||
Speakers
President
InfoPathways
As the youngest of 6 children of a stay-at-home mom and UFCW grocery associate, Theresa jokes that her parents’ career aspiration for her was to “marry a plumber” as no one in the family was a plumber. She completed her college coursework as a non-traditional student at Carroll Community College and Johns Hopkins University, where she attained her B.S. in Business and Management. Theresa Bethune is the president and majority owner of InfoPathways, a regional technology support firm with locations in NC and MD that serves high compliance clients. Prior to leading InfoPathways, Theresa owned and managed a rural ISP which she sold in 2021. Theresa spent much of her career at Johnson Controls where she held positions of increasing responsibility, including Regional Sales Manager and P & L leader for an electronic safety and security branch. As a business leader, Theresa is passionate about providing opportunities for employment and driving a culture of respect, value, and inclusion which has created a highly engaged, talented and diverse team at InfoPathways. In addition to running her business, Theresa currently serves as Immediate Past Chair of the Board for the Westminster Rescue Mission, Chair of the Board for the Community Media Center of Carroll County, Vice Chair and volunteer advisor for the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI), Treasurer for St. George’s Episcopal Church, and Secretary for the Maryland State Chapter for P.E.O. International (a Philanthropic Education Organization that funds scholarships for women). Theresa lives in Carroll County Maryland, with husband Thom, son Thomas (who is currently at college), mother-in-law Sam, dogs Nyx & Kira (Dutch Shepherds), Darla and Nugget (Pugs) and cat, Moss.
Panelists
Director of Software Engineering Supply Chain Technology
Lowe's Companies
Alecia Haynes, a graduate of Appalachian State University, has dedicated 22 years to Lowe's, showcasing her versatility and leadership in the technology sector. Starting as a programmer, she advanced through various Technology roles and now serves as Director of Software Engineering. Her journey reflects a commitment to innovation and excellence, making significant contributions to the company's technological advancements. Alecia’s expertise and dedication continue to inspire her colleagues and drive Lowe's forward in the ever-evolving technology landscape.
Director of Information Technology for Revenue Growth Management (RGM) Solutions
Reynolds American Inc.
Nikki Barefoot is the Director of Information Technology for Revenue Growth Management (RGM) Solutions at Reynolds American Inc. She holds a BS in Information Technology & Business from NC State and an MBA from Wake Forest. Over her 7-year career with Reynolds, Nikki has built IT digital platforms for Sales, Marketing, and RGM teams to better engage consumers and customers and drive efficiencies through business process automation.
Nikki is currently leading the development of an enterprise pricing platform to automate and streamline Reynold’s pricing management processes that control $2.4 billion in annual spending. This project will also create an analytical foundation for data-driven strategic decisions, automate pricing data delivery to Reynolds’ customers through APIs, and provide machine learning capabilities for advanced price optimization. She has learned how to effectively manage a portfolio of projects alongside her team with a value-driven approach. She advocates for creating an environment where technologists are elevated to strategic business partners – critical to achieving business goals, leading transformation, and developing skillsets that allow them to succeed with non-technical stakeholders. She strongly advocates for employee growth and recognition to help others achieve their goals in the ever-changing and dynamic environment of technology.
Product Owner
ECR Software
As a graduate of Appalachian State University three times over (B.S., MSADA, MBA), Katherine is a current adjunct lecturer for the Walker College of Business. After returning to the High Country in 2020 from working in non-profit management, fundraising, and marketing, Katherine now serves as a Product Owner of two development teams for ECRS, a leading retail solutions company headquartered in Boone, NC.
Through the encouragement of fellow co-workers, Uva explored the mechanics of software deployment via Docker containers and Kubernetes clusters. While developing models and analyzing raw data, a need arose within ECRS for a Product Owner on the back-office application development team. This opportunity led her to shift focus toward managing software development, feature design, and customer engagement rather than coding. Now serving as the Product Owner for both the back office application and database engine teams, Uva consistently strives to lead the industry with innovative, high-quality software solutions that reduce time and costs for customers.