Tech Matters provides technical service and consulting for a core clientele of small businesses and individuals. We are developing workshops with Zo-Be Enterprises to introduce primary and middle school teachers to computer programming concepts suitable for classroom integration.It is our goal to develop a self-perpetuating apprentice/mentor program to provide quality, relevant experience for the underserved population in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields.We are most excited about pioneering a collaborative educational game project with Southern Polytechnic State University’s College of Computer Science and the Marietta Center for Advanced Academics. The innovative program teams 5th graders with college student software developers to create an educational computer game to teach science, engineering, and technology in the 5th grade Oceanography science curriculum. The students will begin beta testing the software spring semester 2009.

The need to improve STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Education in the US is well documented. Southern Polytechnic State University is the first Polytechnic to be chosen as a UTeach, STEM Teacher Education replication site. To ensure the program, its students, and its mentor schools are well prepared to proactively use technology, SPSUTeach includes Technology Integration Specialists. The SPSUTeach Technology Specialists oversee and advise on all aspects of technology integration from the implementation of Live Text to support institutional growth and efficacy, to the evaluation of standards, and use of technology in the UTeach and mentor school classrooms.

Strategic planning, including business plan & sales strategy development.

As Director of Technology The Walker School, I developed a school-wide computer presence that grew to a campus-wide fiber network. I earned Novell Certification, and was honored as a Tandy Technology Outstanding Educator. I served as Secretary, and as President of the Atlanta Area Technology Educators group. Through ISTE, I was a Technology Plan reviewer for the national E-Rate technology funding program.At Walker I enjoyed the flexibility to explore creative ways to promote technology integration into the curriculum and extra curricular activities. Walker did not have a technology curriculum and so I started a Network Administration course for students. Most students who participated were able to use their experience to qualify for computer support positions both in high school and college. The program expanded and was able to offer paid positions to interns who were either alumni or parents of alumni, which helped advance their careers. I was responsible for all aspects of the technology budget, from planning, justifying, and supporting the budget to choosing vendors and completing the purchasing. I negotiated sales and service contracts, issued purchase orders, processed invoices and balanced all technology accounts. I was primary project manager on all technology projects including the expansion of the school from one building to five. As Director, I supervised two other tech department members, three Technology Integration Specialists, as well as, volunteers, and student and paid interns. I was the network, email, and firewall administrator, and supported 13 servers, 450 computers and over 1000 users who ranged in age from four to sixty four.

As an Aircraft Performance Engineer, I was responsible for the Weight and Balance of the entire Delta fleet, the performance data for the DC-9 fleet, and interfaced with the EPA and FAA on Delta’s noise abatement compliance. As the Weight and Balance engineer, I also worked on and helped introduce the new Automated Weight and Balance System (AWABS) to pilots and load planners throughout the Delta system. I served on the aircraft selection team responsible for meeting with manufactures to help select Delta’s new airplanes. I developed the flight performance envelope for Delta’s first Boeing 767’s and met with the FAA for approval.

As a Staff Engineer I wore a hard had and steel toed shoes. I learned how to weld, drive a forklift and a train, and how to operate a boiler and a bobcat front-end loader. Within a year I was responsible for a major plant expansion. Within two years I was offered a promotion from staff engineer to manager of plant maintenance. However, I could no longer resist the call of aviation. Delta Air Lines announced they were hiring engineers for the first time in ten years. I applied and was hired as Delta’s first woman engineer.