NASA Astronaut Dorothy M. Metcalf-Lindenburger will share her experiences as an astronaut and the qualities it takes to attain that rarified profession during TechConnect West Virginia’s first “Women in Technology: A Formula for Success” conference taking place Oct. 18-19 at Oglebay Resort & Conference Center in Wheeling, conference organizers announced today.
“Astronaut Metcalf-Lindenburger has a fascinating and inspirational story to tell,” said Anne Barth, Executive Director of TechConnectWV. “A geologist and educator by trade, her passion to become an astronaut led to her selection as a NASA Mission Specialist in 2004. After years of extensive technical and physical training, she accompanied the STS-131 Discovery Space Shuttle on a 15-day resupply mission to the International Space Station. If that isn’t fascinating enough, she’s also a marathon runner, wife and mother. To say we’re excited to have her as our keynote speaker is an understatement.”
The two-day “Women in Technology: A Formula for Success” conference is designed to encourage and support women involved in all aspects of technology, including science and engineering education and research, the private sector, business development, governmental agencies, and entrepreneurship.  It is presented with support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Division of Science and Research, and the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts.
Participants will be treated to inspirational women speakers, informative and useful panel discussions and breakout sessions, an exhibitor showcase, and ample opportunity for quality networking.
Barth said, “From Silicon Valley to the Boston I-495 Tech Corridor, women are under-represented in technology: on university campuses, in large and small businesses, in government R&D, and among high-growth start-up firms.”
“Developing this potential source of untapped talent could help to diversify and grow the economy, and encouraging more women to enter tech fields and become tech entrepreneurs is an important goal for West Virginia and the nation,” she added.
Among the conference’s breakout sessions are:
- Summing Up the Nuts and Bolts of a Start-Up: A panel of experts will examine and discuss what it takes to launch a start-up company, from business plan to legal structure to finances. Learn about best practices and avoid costly mistakes from knowledge and experiences shared by expert service providers.
- Mentors: How They Multiply Success: Successful women business and academic leaders will discuss the role of mentors in their professional careers, including strategies for both finding and maximizing the opportunities presented by a mentor. Learn from the insights and experiences of a panel of high achievers.
- Developing Your Technology Career: Hear women in higher education and private industry discuss their path to a successful career in technology. Learn how to recognize and optimize career opportunities.
- Telling Your Story with Social Media: Can you tell your story in 140 characters? Do you use social media sites to your best advantage? Can social media work harder for you? Learn from social media gurus to make the most of technology.
- How to Pitch Your Idea: Whether you’re looking for funding for a new enterprise, seeking a grant or job, or raising money for a community project, you’ll learn from this hands-on workshop to help you hone the basics of a good pitch.
- Life-Work Balance Issues for Women in Technology: Needs no description, most likely. Don’t all women deal with finding that perfect balance between their professional and personal careers? Hear about strategies used by real-world women in balancing the demands of home and office.
To register for the conference, please go to: http://techconnectwv.wildapricot.org/.
For additional information on NASA Astronaut Dorothy (Dottie) M. Metcalf-Lindenburger, visit http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/metcalf-lindenburger-dm.html.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For questions regarding corporate sponsorship, please e-mail anne@techconnectwv.org.
