Meet The Women of Techweek Detroit

Elaina Farnsworth’s expertise in mobile technologies began almost a decade ago, by creating text messaging programs to aid first responders in emergency situations. Thereafter, she worked in education to bring about technical literacy for teachers and their students. Her talent for teaching complicated technical concepts to all levels of executives allows her to help organizations create mobile strategies to take advantage of the paradigm shift revolutionizing business today. She passionately advocates the power of mobile to improve the way business and education is conducted.

Elaina was granted the L. Brooks Patterson Elite 40 under 40 award in 2013 and also received the Crain’s Detroit Business 40 under 40 award in 2014. She serves on the advisory board of Oakland University INCubator, as well as the Board of Directors of the Mobile Technology Trade Association of Michigan (MTAM) http://www.gomobilemichigan.org, a nonprofit catalyst in building cohesion among all segments of Michigan’s mobile technology industry.

In April 2012, Elaina was appointed Director of Global Communications for the International Connected Vehicle Trade Association (http://www.connectedvehicle.org). CVTA’s Board includes multinational companies from 16 industry sectors, such as Intel, Cisco, Sprint, Motorola, Agero, Delphi, Road America, Booz Allen, Hughes Telematics, Nokia, Magneti Marelli, and Dykema Gossett, among others.

Jen is the former Chief Executive Officer and co-owner of JW Hulme. She spearheaded the reinvention and revitalization of the 108 year-old American-made leather goods brand and was the 2012 recipient of the Minnesota Manufacturing Awards CEO of the year.

Jen has recently left JW Hulme to join the re-launched American brand Shinola. She is continuing her passion for domestic manufacturing by leading the development of leather goods to be made in Shinola’s Detroit headquarters where they currently manufacture high quality watches and bikes.

After focusing most of her early career in product design for several leather goods brands Jen transitioned to the business development side of fashion, becoming Vice President of Brand Management for The Sak in 1998. In 2003 Jen and her business partner discovered and purchased JW Hulme; where she established her commitment to quality domestic manufacturing.

Jen has been a regular champion of non-profit causes with her current energies being applied to The Makers Coalition as Founding Chair. Jen has been a board member for organizations such as Ad Fed and Minneapolis Mosaic.

Jen holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Oklahoma where she attended as a Division I Volleyball scholarship recipient. She completed special study programs at the Academy of Arts, San Francisco.

As Market Launch Manager at Zipcar, Jessica is tasked with working with a variety of partners to bring Zipcar’s car sharing model into new cities in North America. Since joining the Zipcar team in 2008, Jessica has led brand efforts in Seattle as Marketing Manager, run parking operations in the San Francisco Bay Area, and served as key contributor in the definition and rollout of multiple public-private car sharing programs throughout California and Texas.

In her current role, Jessica acts as a lead strategic team member in the launch of Zipcar’s North American metropolitan markets and also heads its rapidly growing airport segment. Her work in 2013 as project manager for Zipcar’s Detroit expansion initially brought her to SE Michigan, and she is now proud to call the Motor City home.

Krischa Winright Chief Information Officer for Priority Health and Vice President of Information Technology at Spectrum Health Krischa Winright is responsible for leading all aspects of the company’s technology efforts. She is accountable for the use of technology today, and its applicability for future corporate innovation and growth. With more than 20 years of technology and health care experience, she has been instrumental in leading the development of initiatives to improve the consumer experience and keep Priority Health at the forefront of the industry. Examples of her work can be seen through the company’s launch of consumer-convenience programs such as its transparency program that publishes facility cost and quality information for nearly 300 procedures and a virtual visits system that enables individuals to see a doctor from their home.

Lauren Love-Wright is president of the Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region for Verizon Wireless, the largest wireless company in the United States, with responsibility for all sales, marketing, operations, financial performance and customer service in three states. A premier technology company, Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest and most reliable 4G LTE network.

Her career with the company spans more than 11 years and includes positions of increasing responsibility in sales, consumer electronics, business and retail services. Prior to becoming region president in 2014, Love-Wright served as retail director for the Illinois/Wisconsin Region of Verizon Wireless. Before that, she joined Verizon Wireless’ Headquarters team as Director of Connected Consumer Electronics and Personal Computing Devices, responsible for driving strategy to ensure that Verizon Wireless service was embedded in the leading consumer electronics and portable personal computing devices sold in the U.S.

Love-Wright has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from Spelman College and Georgia Institute of Technology; her Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology; and her MBA from Harvard Business School.

Marlin Page is a globetrotting speaker, panelist, and media contributor empowering girls and women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), a thought leader on bridging the gender and racial gap in technology, Technology Strategist and Online Safety Evangelist. Marlin has had a successful career as a coder, Deputy Chief Information Officer, global diversity executive, and technology entrepreneur.

After college, Marlin was an aspiring mortician working at a funeral home until she heard about a technology corporation’s boot camp. Participants learned to program in seven different languages in 13 weeks. At the age of 25 Marlin took the challenge, joined the company and survived the boot camp. In less than a year she emerged as a mainframe programmer developing and maintaining code for the automotive and banking industry, along with other exciting projects.

Marlin ultimately became the company’s first Diversity and Strategic Business Executive, including implementing a successful strategy to bridge the racial, gender, and socio-economic gap in the field of technology. Marlin transitioned from the private sector to the public sector and became Deputy Chief Information Officer for the City of Detroit. Marlin and her team successfully developed the City’s first e-government initiative. She also led collaboration across ten unique agencies to support the technology and infrastructure required for Super Bowl XL. Marlin later founded a nationally recognized technology staffing, recruiting and strategic business consulting organization.

Marlin wanted other women to experience the awesomeness that a career in technology had afforded her. She was living proof that technology could transform your life and open the door to endless opportunities. Marlin founded Sisters Code with a simple goal: to awaken the mature geek. Sisters Code’s mission is to educate, empower, and entice women ages 25 – 85 to explore the world of coding and technology. Simply put, Sisters Code is working to bridge the gender gap by helping women re-career into the field of technology.

Marlin travels the world serving as a STEM Advocate inspiring girls and women to believe that they can learn, work, and flourish in the field of technology. Most recently Marlin was selected to serve as a contributor and speaker for Microsoft’s Global DigiGirlz programs and camps, SXSW, Techonomy, Meeting of the Minds, and the U.S. State Department International Delegation, Multi Regional Project, amongst others. Utilizing her expertise as a technology strategist, Marlin partners with organizations to develop, manage, and support their internal and external technology outreach initiatives around STEM, diversity, and empowerment for women and girls.

Marlin’s book, workbook, and music CD, “Always Believe” came about when her daughter began having some of the same self-esteem issues Marlin experienced when she was younger. Always Believe motivates young girls to love themselves, believe in themselves and celebrate their uniqueness.

As Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Michelle K. Lee provides leadership and oversight to one of the largest intellectual property offices in the world.

Ms. Lee serves as a principal advisor to the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, on both domestic and international intellectual property matters, and provides leadership and oversight of the day-to-day management of the policy, budget, and operations for an agency of over 12,000 employees. She also promotes innovation domestically and drives international harmonization efforts, in support of the administration’s top economic priorities to increase economic growth.

Prior to her role as Director, Ms. Lee was Deputy Director, and also served as the first Director of the Silicon Valley United States Patent and Trademark Office where she was responsible for establishing and leading the Silicon Valley office as well as advising the USPTO on a variety of policy matters.

Before becoming the Director of the Silicon Valley office, Ms. Lee served by appointment of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on the USPTO’s Patent Public Advisory Committee, which advises the USPTO on patent policies, goals, performance, and operations. The San Francisco Business Times and San Jose Business Journal recognized Ms. Lee as Best Bay Area IP Lawyer in 2012 and one of the top 100 most influential women in the Silicon Valley in 2013. Ms. Lee has spent most of her professional career advising some of the country’s most innovative companies on technical, legal, and business matters.

Prior to joining the USPTO, Ms. Lee served as Deputy General Counsel for Google and was the company’s first Head of Patents and Patent Strategy. She also served as a partner at the Silicon Valley-based law firm of Fenwick and West, where she specialized in advising a wide range of high-technology clients from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies on patent law, intellectual property, litigation, and corporate matters. Prior to her career as a legal advisor to technology companies, Ms. Lee worked in the federal judiciary, serving as a law clerk for the Honorable Vaughn R. Walker on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California where she worked on the precedent-setting Apple v. Microsoft copyright infringement case. As a law clerk for the Honorable Paul R. Michel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Ms. Lee worked on many patent and trademark appeals.

Before building her legal career, Ms. Lee worked as a computer scientist at Hewlett-Packard Research Laboratories, as well as at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. She holds a B.S. and an M.S. in electrical engineering and computer science from M.I.T., as well as a J.D. from Stanford Law School.

Nancy works at the intersection of technology, community, and people. As a leader and technologist, she creates solutions that further community and business goals by meeting the needs of individuals.Nancy supports clients and teams by fostering a collaborative, idea-driven culture that nurtures creativity and brainpower. She speaks extensively about work culture, social media, technology, and leadership and has been locally and nationally recognized for her role as owner and CEO of Clockwork.

She’s co-author of Interactive Project Management: Pixels, People, and Process (New Riders, 2012), serves as the Vice Chair on the National Board of Directors at The Family Equality Council, is on the Board of Trustees at Minnesota Public Radio, and is a member of the advisory board for the innovative entrepreneurial conference, Giant Steps.

Olga Stella is the Vice President of Business Development at the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC). DEGC is a nonprofit economic development agency that is a close partner of the City of Detroit and staffs several of its public redevelopment authorities. In her role, Olga helps lead economic development strategies focused on creating jobs and economic opportunities within the city. One of those strategies is supporting the development of a strong creative cluster in Detroit.