Monday, March 10, 2008

Women to Watch

Welcome to the 2008 Women to Watch

Each year, we open the nomination process for our annual Women to Watch project and we rely on you, our readers, to send us information about the top techhnology women in the region: Women who are dedicated to entrepreneurship, technological innovation and lifelong learning. In addition, we seek out women whom we have written about, and, more importantly, women whom we haven't yet recognized in our newspaper. But each year, the women nominated by our readers • are those who ultimately are chosen by our panel of independent judges -- and who become members of that year's "class."

For the fifth year in a row, we are thrilled to be able to present yet another stellar class of women succeeding in technology business; the stakes continue to rise for being recognized.

As you read the profiles within, I hope you'll note some of the stories that run between the lines. Not only do our Women to Watch continue to break barriers by succeeding in what is still a male-dominated business, but they are breaking new ground in every discipline they focus upon.

They represent companies both large and small, from federal contractors such as BAE Systems (where our honoree is busy building products that are helping save soldiers' lives today) to small startups with names you may not even yet know --

Zeemote, Medullan, Zink, Bodega Algae. And that is precisely why we call these amazing technologists and entrepreneurs "women to watch." You may not know these names now, but we're sure that, soon, you will.

Another thread that runs through the lives of these women is their commitment to the young women coming along behind them. Several of this year's Women to Watch are active in programs that help attract and mentor other women to work in the science engineering fields. Others are working to improve science, technology and math education in the region. In several different ways, these women are effecting change through volunteering, nonprofit board work, and building programs in their companies and communities.

For these reasons, and many more that you'll discover as you spend time with these CEOs, scientists and engineers, we hope you enjoy getting to know the Women to Watch of 2008. All are worthy of honor and deserving of attention. We're convinced that you'll think so too.

How we chose the winners

Mass High Tech formed an advisory committee (see list at left) for its Women To Watch program. Its members were chosen based on their extensive industry expertise as well as their strong ties to the technology and science communities.

The advisory committee, along with MHT editor Doug Banks and Women to Watch program co-chairs, MHT managing editor Marie Lingblom and Trish Fleming, executive director of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge, met to discuss criteria for the nomination process.

The advisory committee was also supported again this fifth year of Women to Watch by Anne Taylor, a co-founder of the annual program dedicated to raising the profiles of innovative women on the rise in New England.

The nomination criteria were published during the fall of 2007 and posted on MHT's website. In addition, advisory committee members and the editorial team of Mass High Tech distributed the information to their own lists of contacts.

The nomination process closed in early January 2008, with nearly 100 submissions received. A short list of candidates was created, and the advisory committee met again at MHT's downtown Boston office to make final selections.

And that was no easy task. Once again this year, committee members were tasked with narrowing an impressive roster of New England innovators and entrepreneurs. And once again, they delivered.

2008 Advisory Committee

Mass High Tech, along with Trish Fleming, executive director of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge, and Marie Lingblom, managing editor of Mass High Tech -- co-chairs of the Women to Watch advisory committee -- would like to express their thanks to the committee members who helped in making the difficult decisions when faced with the large number of submissions for this year's Women to Watch roster.

• Laura e. Allen, director of MedTech IGNITE and special projects, Mass. Medical Device Industry Council
• Christine Cunningham, vice president for research, Museum of Science
• Frances Grigsby, CEO, Next Level International
• Jean Hammond, founder and principal, JPH Associates
• John Hodgman, Howard Foley professor for high tech work-force development, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Shelley Errington Nicholson, director of women's programs, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Sherry S. handel, director, Center for Women & Enterprise, central Massachusetts
• Geetha Ramamurthy, executive director, TiE-Boston
• June Rokoff, co-founder and vice chair, The Commonwealth Institute
• Larisa Schelkin, CEO, executive director, Diversity in Outreach in Math and Engineering, DOME Foundation
• Tom Sommer, president, Mass. Medical Device Industry Council
• Alison Taunton-Rigby, CEO, RiboNovix Inc.
• Fiona Wilson, professor, Simmons College School of Management