CWU’s Women in Industry Panel Addresses Non-traditional Careers on October 3

The great opportunities and challenges for women in the workplace will be addressed at the inaugural Women in Industry panel discussion, sponsored by Central Washington University’s Department of Engineering Technologies, Safety and Construction (ETSC). The panel discussion will host eight powerhouse leaders in safety and health, electronics, construction, transportation, aviation, technology, and engineering.

The Women in Industry Panel will begin at 4:45 p.m. in the SURC Theatre. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. Tickets may be obtained from www.cwu.edu/tickets/. Parking is free in CWU lots after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends, except in specially designated spaces and residence hall lots.

“This conference is for women and men who are interested in entering the rewarding and high demand careers in applied technology, safety management, construction management, and engineering,” said Sathyanarayanan “Sathy” Rajendran, chair of ETSC, and director of the Safety and Health Management (SHM) program. “We want to encourage students, especially women and underrepresented minorities, to enter these traditionally ‘masculine’ fields. They offer high salaries, employment security, and a fulfilling, fast-paced profession.”

Rajendran is excited about the panel, which consists of eight women leaders in industry from diverse fields. They are:
• Anne F. Soiza, Assistant Director, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Gladys Gillis, Owner/Chief Executive Officer, Starline Luxury Coaches
• Kate Smiley Crawford, Director of Safety & Health at Hensel Phelps Services, LLC
• Laine Heikel, Senior Project Manager, Confluence Health
• Liz Tiffany, Field Application Engineer, Arrow Electronics
• Mandi Kime, Director of Safety, Associated General Contractors of Washington
• Meagan Santos, Vice President, Northern Region, Western Integrated Technologies
• Teresa King, Engineering Project Manager, Cabin Technology Development & Integration Leader, Product Development, Boeing Commercial Airplane

Provost Katherine Frank will deliver the opening remarks and Jennifer Serne, SHM faculty member, will moderate the panel discussion. Members of the audience will be encouraged to participate and ask questions.

“We hope to inspire our next ‘captains of industry’ by giving them the resources and mentorship necessary to pursue these exciting and lucrative career paths,” Rajendran said.

Media Contact: Valerie Chapman-Stockwell, Public Affairs, 509-963-1518, valeriec@cwu.edu