UMBC's Center for Women and Information Technology (CWIT), Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), and the Maryland Technology Development Corporation(TEDCO) partnered to launch Global Trends in Technology: Propelling Women into Leadership on October 26, 2006.

Maryland's first Global Trends in Technology: Propelling Women into Leadership forum was held on Thursday, October 26th at the Sheraton Columbia Hotel in Howard County. Nearly 250 professionals from manufacturing, biotechnology, IT and engineering attended to hear executive-level speakers and participate in panel presentations and one-on-one advising sessions about resources to help launch successful careers and businesses in high-tech fields. Attendees also had the option of participating in a working party during the afternoon to discuss the formation of a new women and technology community in Maryland.

The breakfast keynote speaker, Heidi Berenson, President of Berenson Communications, Inc., presented Power Up Your Pitch…Whether Pitching Your Company, Your Ideas or Yourself. During the afternoon, attendees enjoyed a presentation by Linda Gooden, President of Lockheed Martin Information Technology. First Lady Kendel Ehrlich was also there to welcome everyone on behalf of the Governor, who supported the development of a Task Force on the Status of Women and Information Technology, the first such task force in the nation.

The event was sponsored by numerous local and national organizations, including Lockheed Martin, SM Consulting, AT&T, Dell and Northrop Grumman. A full list can be found at http://wtci.org/MDWIT/MDWIT.html. For further discussion of this event and its importance, see "Addressing the Needs of Women in Technology" in the December 2006 issue of The Business Monthly.

To find out how to become involved in plans for the next event and the formation of a new community for women and technology, please send an email to cwit@umbc.edu or call Bria McElroy at 410-455-8642.