Amanda Blair is a working mother, college student and computer programmer. She is employed by Quilmont, a local Myrtle Beach solutions company focused on providing organizations with a comprehensive testing practice by fully utilizing industry-leading software testing tools for mobile, web, and desktop applications. She works with test cases and test development, as well as web site design and other web based development. In May 2016, she will graduate from Horry-Georgetown Technical College with an A.A.S. in Computer Technology in both the Programming Emphasis and the Networking Emphasis. She is the current AITP (Association of Information Technology Professionals) Chapter President 2015, Honorable Mention recipient at AITP NCC 2015, and a member of CodeIT Academy pilot program. As a mother of an 8 year old daughter, she strives to be a role model at work, school and especially home.

Nicole McFarlane received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Howard University, Washington DC, in 2001 and 2003 respectively, and her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2010. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee since 2010, working on sensors, devices and electronics for portable and implantable applications. Her research has included fabrication and characterization of III–V Nitrides, developing the theory underlying information and power efficiency trade-offs in mixed signal electronics, CMOS biosensors and lab-on-a-chip technologies, vertically aligned carbon nanofiber based sensors and electronics for sensing and actuation.

Jaeyeon Jung is a senior researcher at Microsoft Research. Prior to joining Microsoft, she was a research scientist at Intel Labs Seattle (2007-2011) after a brief stint as a software architect at Mazu networks (2006-2007). She obtained her PhD from MIT in 2006. Her current research focuses on developing new technologies for protecting consumer privacy, particularly in the areas of mobile systems and emerging consumer devices for the home.

Heather Bauer serves as the Program Coordinator for Coursepower (Applied Computing Minor), a state-wide initiative that believes, regardless of major, students need to have an understanding of information technology. She also serves as chair for IT-oLogy’s Women in IT, Science and Engineering (WISE) and Google Women Techmakers group. The program is dedicated to increasing the number of women in the IT talent pipeline. Through outreach, events and networking, WISE connects and engages the IT ecosystem promoting opportunity, creating visibility and interest in IT careers for girls, college women, and advancing women in the IT profession. Heather is also a tech entrepreneur and actively works in the community to promote women in entrepreneurship. With her startup, Vesta, users are no longer limited to big box stores for their wedding registry. Users can register at any local store for gifts they want with their mobile device. With Vesta, registrants are gifted unique pieces to match their lifestyle and their loved ones can feel good about getting gifts that are meaningful and special. Not only that, they are supporting local businesses and artisans. Her eclectic background and experience in interior design, art history, project and people management, production, marketing, and technology, has lead her unique path to entrepreneurship and technology.

Carol began her professional career as a computer programmer for two Fortune 500 manufacturing companies. In 1980 she moved to the health care industry as a programmer/analyst and became project manager for Blue Cross of Northwest Ohio. In 1986 she moved to South Carolina to work for BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, where she worked 20 years in the computer systems that serve large government contracts (CHAMPUS/TRICARE). She had various responsibilities including managing system applications, projects, and clients. Currently, Carol is AVP of Systems Production Support for most computer applications at BlueCross and the Leveraged Core Application Systems multiple lines of business use within BlueCross.