Women in Consumer Technology (WiCT) held its 17th-annual luncheon on Friday to honor women in the integration industry during CEDIA Expo/CIX. The Legacy Awards recognized eight women for their contributions to the industry, but the award winners emphasized that their success was partly due to a team effort.
Shari Sally, VP of sales and business development for the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), credited her supervisors for seeing her potential when she started at the organization as an intern. The CTA puts on the juggernaut of trade shows, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), every year in Las Vegas.
“All of these people, both men and women, believed in me and helped shape me not to accept the status quo,” Sally said.
Meanwhile, Michelle Lueck, founder and president of Gritworks Consulting, emphasized the importance of mentorships for women. “Standing here today, I think how lucky I have been to have incredible mentors, the kind who saw something in me before I saw it in myself,” she said.
WiCT offers opportunities for women in the industry looking for connection and advice. Carol Campbell, founder of WiCT, encouraged women at Expo to take advantage of the free Connect Circle program.
Amanda Wildman, the owner of TruMedia and vice chairperson of CEDIA, also highlighted the importance of working together as a community. “If each one of us commits to lifting up just one more person, we will build momentum that will change the face of this industry for good,” she said.
Michelle Troupe, supply chain operations PA and supplier manager at Boeing, sees a bright future for women in the integration industry. “What excites me the most is that in the room right now, there’s the next generation of women in leadership,” Troupe observed.
Jana Stevens, who received the Carol Campbell Inspiration Award, reflected on how the industry has changed since she and her husband, Chris Stevens, opened Phoenix Systems in 1979. Chris Stevens and Tom Doherty went on to found CEDIA in 1989, but it was Jana’s idea to start a trade association.
At that time, she said there were few women in the industry, but she feels inspired by women joining the ranks. Stevens predicted that the next generation of women will usher in a new landscape in the integration industry.
“We are at the edge of an entirely new paradigm in technology,” said Stevens. “I don’t know what you’re going to create, but the possibilities are wide open.”
Other award winners included: Gabi Hughes, who received the Technical Excellence Award; Ellie Doherty, who received the Woman to Watch Award; and Stephanie Ann Spears Casimiro, who received the Volunteer of the Year Award.
