Women of Innovation® Award Candidates to be Featured in Webinar on June 18; Community Innovation and Leadership Finalists
The three Community Innovation and Leadership category finalists for this year’s Women of Innovation® awards will be featured on Thursday, June 18 in a noontime webinar presented by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT).
Featured will be Aundrya Montgomery, Research Assistant at the University of Connecticut, Rachel Petro, Mechanical Design Engineer at Pratt & Whitney, and Maranda Wong, Commercials Engines Deputy CIPT, MPE at Pratt & Whitney.
The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) and the Connecticut Technology Council (CTC) recently announced the 50 women in 10 categories who have been selected as Women of Innovation® Finalists for the 16th Annual Women of Innovation® awards. The program celebrates and adds to a growing network of women leading Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing (STEM) throughout Connecticut.
The webinar is part of CCAT’s Connecticut Manufacturers Webinar Series. The hour-long webinar, 12:00-1:00 PM, is free of charge. Individuals can register here or on the CCAT website, www.ccat.us.
Each of the finalists in this category is a woman employed in technology, science or engineering who has devoted her own time and resources, or marshaled those of her company or organization, to support community organizations or non-profits. The award will go to one outstanding woman who has created or encouraged a culture of giving at her company or who has volunteered her time outside her workplace.
Women of Innovation® Finalists are nominated by their peers, coworkers, and mentors, and are selected based on their professional experience, history of innovation, ability to think creatively and solve problems, and demonstration of leadership.
Aundrya Montgomery earned her Masters of Science degree in Biomedical Science from UConn, where she worked to develop engineering strategies applicable to fingertip injuries. Her current research includes evaluating pediatric esophageal tissue engineering techniques and identifying the prevalence of obesity and its comorbidities among transgender youth.
Rachel Petro is currently a design engineer supporting suppliers and operations at Pratt & Whitney. She has a passion for engineering and helping other grow, and is an active member in the P&W Hispanic Leadership Forum where she serves as community relations chair. She develops and leads programs to introduce and nurture an appreciation for STEM.
Maranda Wong is the Commercial and Advanced Military Engines CIPT Deputy and ACE Deputy Manager in the Materials & Processes Engineering department at Pratt & Whitney. She plays a key role in integrating MPE technology with modules for the GTF and Advanced Military Engines, and mentors and coaches project management skills and business problem solving.
This week’s webinar on June 18 will also feature a manufacturing presentation – Financial Wellness for Manufacturers – Retaining your Workforce in Uncertain Times.
The finalists for Women of Innovation® awards were selected from more than 150 women nominated earlier this year. They include researchers, educators, engineers, managers, students, and entrepreneurs who work in or study biotech, pharmaceuticals, software, computer hardware, advanced materials, medical devices, IT, and associated fields.
High school, undergraduate and graduate students who have exhibited extraordinary and unique achievements in their technology disciplines are among the 50 Women of Innovation® finalists. Last week’s CCAT webinar included messages from the student finalists at the high school and collegiate level. Videos created by the high school finalists and the recording of the June 11 webinar can be viewed at: www.ccat.us/womenofinnovation.
All nominees were required to meet minimum requirements as well as those specific to the awards for which they were nominated. Nominees had to be currently working or studying in the State of Connecticut, demonstrating strong leadership abilities, and serving (or previously served) as a mentor in some capacity – short- or long-term, life mentor, career mentor, or peer mentor. Winners in each of the 10 categories will be announced this Fall.
Women of Innovation® premier sponsors are CTNext and Medtronic. Showcase sponsor is Accounting Resources Inc. Media partners include WTNH News 8, Connecticut magazine and Lite 100.5 WRCH. Learn more at www.CCAT.us/womenofinnovation.
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Media Contact:
Bernard Kavaler
860.729.3021
bernard@express-strategies.com
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