HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 20, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Connecticut Technology Council (CTC) announces that 59 women have been selected as Women of Innovation® for the tenth annual Women of Innovation® Awards Program. The program recognizes women across Connecticut – those in the workforce and students – who are innovators, role models and leaders in the fields of science, technology engineering and math.
A winner in each of eight award categories will be announced during the Women of Innovation® Awards Dinner at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington on March 27. The complete list of 2014 Women of Innovation is posted on the CTC website, www.ct.org. Ticket purchases and registration for the 2014 event are available online through the CTC website.
The Women of Innovation® were nominated by their peers and selected based on their professional experience, history of innovation, ability to think creatively and solve problems, and demonstration of leadership. Students were judged on inventiveness, accomplishment in science and technology, independent research, and academic achievement.
"These Connecticut women are extraordinary and outstanding contributors to their professions, to their employers, and in many cases to their communities," said Beth Alquist, planning committee chair for the Women of Innovation® Awards Program.
This year's list of 59 women includes researchers, educators, engineers, managers, and entrepreneurs who work in biotech, pharmaceuticals, software, computer hardware, advanced materials, medical devices, and Information technology.
High school, undergraduate and graduate students who have demonstrated extraordinary and unique achievements in their technology studies disciplines are also among the finalists. The winner in the Youth Innovation and Leadership category will receive a $4,000 scholarship from Covidien, one of the event's presenting sponsors.
The Women of Innovation® Awards presenting sponsors are the pharmaceutical company, Boehringer Ingelheim USA Corporation, medical device manufacturer Covidien, the law firm of Day Pitney LLP and United Technologies Corporation. Supporting Sponsors include, Capital One Bank, General Electric, Pfizer Inc, The Traveler's Companies and VLink Inc.
Contact Mike Scricca at (860) 289-0878, ext. 334 or mscricca@ct.org with questions regarding the program or the awards dinner.
Below is a list of the 2014 Women of Innovation® award winners with the town of residence where provided.
Eeman Abbasi, High School Student, Amity Regional High School, Orange
Michelle Addinton, Hines Professor of Sustainable Architectural Design, Yale School of Architecture
Nasreen Ali, Director of Engineering, Priceline.com
Biree Andemariam, Physician Researcher, University of Connecticut Health Center, Department of Medicine
Kathy Ayers, Director of Research, Proton OnSite
Nancy Cappello, Consultant, Are You Dense Inc.
Robin Chazdon, Professor, University of Connecticut, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Lia Cirelli, High School Student, Joel Barlow High School
Penelope Cloft, Senior Fellow/Discipline Lead, Systems Engineering, UTC - Pratt & Whitney
Amy Comer, Manager, Mechanical Systems & External Engineering, UTC - Pratt & Whitney
Manon Cox, President and CEO, Protein Sciences Corporation
Pamela Curbelo, Partner and Co-Chair, Chemical, Material and Life Sciences Department, Cantor Colburn LLP
Theresa Devins, Associate Director, Clinical Trial Management, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Emma Dinh, High School Student, Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science, Bristol
Julie Dorsey, Professor of Computer Science, Yale University, Madison
Shelton Duelm, Senior Design Manager, UTC - Pratt & Whitney
Beverly Elliott, Director -- Project Management, Comcast
Kate Emery, President & CEO, The Walker Group
Mary Kay Fenton, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Achillion Pharmaceuticals
Magdalena Fincham, Partner & Founder, Fincham Downs, LLC, Ridgefield
R. Holly Fitch, Professor, University of Connecticut, Department of Psychology, Suffield
Yvette Fobian, Senior Director, Head of Synthesis, Biotherapeutics Chemistry, Pfizer Inc.
Elizabeth Gerber, Undergraduate Student, Department of Engineering, Trinity College
Jennifer Good, President & CEO, Trevi Therapeutics, Inc., Newtown
Lu Han, Graduate Student, PhD candidate, University of Connecticut, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cheshire
Lynne Handanyan, Vice President - Chemical Research and Development, Pfizer Inc.
Brittany Horton, High School Student, Glastonbury High School, Glastonbury
Candice Hughes, CEO & Founder, AdapTac Games LLC, Darien
Zeenat Hussain, High School Student, Farmington High School, Farmington
Andreanne Johnson, Information Technology Principal Consult, UTC-Sikorsky Aircraft, Milford
Renee Jurek, Engineer, Turbine Aerodynamics, UTC - Pratt & Whitney
Andrea Kadilak, Graduate student, University of Connecticut, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Paula Kavathas, Professor, Yale University, Department of Laboratory Medicine
Yvonne Kielhorn, CEO & Founder, Why Science LLC
Nuriye Elif Kongar-Bahtiyar, Associate Professor, University of Bridgeport, Department of Technology Management and Mechanical Engineering, New Haven
Leila Ladani, Associate Professor, University of Connecticut, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Storrs
Jan Lin, Senior Engineer, IPT Leader, UTC - Pratt & Whitney, Glastonbury
Yixin Liu, Graduate Student, University of Connecticut, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Storrs
Lynn Madden, President & CEO, APT Foundation, Inc.
Dr. Paige Mahaney, Vice President, Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery Support, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Radenka Maric, CT Clean Energy Fund Professor of Sustainable Energy, University of Connecticut, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Elizabeth Mitchell, Deputy CIPT Leader - AEP Exhaust Nozzles, UTC – Pratt & Whitney
Ilana Odess, CEO & Founder, Woven Orthopedic Technologies, LLC
Bridget Oei, High School Student, East Catholic High School, Hebron
Elaine Pagliaro, Grants Coordinator, University of New Haven, Henry C Lee Institute of Forensic Science, Orange
Diane Pintavalle, High School Science Teacher, Glastonbury High School, Hebron
Katherine Pitz, Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Student, Fairfield University, School of Engineering, Millbrook
Emily Roto, Graduate Student, Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, School of Engineering, Eastford
Amalia Rusu, Associate Professor of Software Engineering, Fairfield University, School of Engineering
Laura Smith, Director of Engineering-Combat and Weapon Systems, General Dynamics-Electric Boat
Lisa Starkey, Next Generation Product Family Engine Repair Manager, UTC - Pratt & Whitney
Ellen Sun, Group Leader, Advanced Materials, United Technologies Research Center
Carol Teschke, Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Glastonbury
Marija Trcka, Staff Research Scientist, United Technologies Research Center
Allison Tuttle, Senior Director of Animal Care, Mystic Aquarium, a division of Sea Research Foundation
Jennifer Wolf, M.D., Associate Professor, University of Connecticut Health Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Zengmin Xia, Doctoral Student, University of Connecticut, Material Science and Engineering
Mengjie Zhu, High School Student, Farmington High School, Farmington
Severine Zygmont, Chief Operating Officer, Oxford Performance Materials, LLC
About The Connecticut Technology Council
The Connecticut Technology Council is a statewide association of technology oriented companies and institutions, providing leadership in areas of policy advocacy, community building and assistance for growing companies. Speaking for over 2,000 companies that employ some 200,000 residents, the Connecticut Technology Council seeks to provide a strong and urgent voice in support of the creation of a culture of innovation.This includes working to position Connecticut as a leader in idea creation, workforce preparation, entrepreneurial aptitude, early stage risk capital availability and providing on-going support and mentoring to high potential firms. For more information, visit www.ct.org.