• January 30, 2019
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Thank You

WITI Summit Speakers: A Preliminary List

Dr. Ben Amaba

Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) for Industrial Sector, Watson & Cloud Platform, IBM

IT Expo Keynote

Dr. Ben Amaba holds a PhD. degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering, a M.B.A./M.S. degree in Engineering and Operations, and a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. Dr. Amaba is a registered and licensed Professional Engineer in several states with International Registry; certified in Production, Operations, and Inventory Management by APICS ®; LEED® Accredited Professional (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design); and certified in Corporate Strategy by Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is responsible for industrial manufacturing, infrastructure and logistics solutions. Dr. Amaba is the Chief Innovation Officer for the Industrial Sector - North America for the IBM Watson and Cloud Division. Dr. Amaba's focus and interest is in artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotic process automation (RPA), software engineering, data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud technology.Dr. Amaba holds a copyright for Process Activity Flow Framework®, the foundation for IBM's Business Driven Development framework for requirements, design, architecture, simulation, and application development techniques. Dr. Amaba has been a keynote in major professional and industry conferences around the world for the past 30 years, is prominently featured in "Giving 2.0," by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen with Stanford Business School, which details contributions to bolster and promote STEM education and careers, and is an Alexis de Tocqueville Society/United Way Member, which recognizes local philanthropic leaders. Dr. Amaba holds positions as Industry Council Advisor to Project Production Institute, Board of Director of Whoop Wireless Corporation, UCX Corporation, and RANCS Group LLC, Executive Board Member of Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (AHFE) and Editorial Board Member to IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) IT Professionals, Founding member to the Institute of Advanced Systems Engineering, Founding member to the Center of Advanced Supply Chain Management, Editorial Board of The Open Cybernetics and Systemics Journal, and Executive Advisory Board Member to the University of Miami, University of Houston, and University of Central Florida.


Tara Auclair

Senior Marketing Communications Manager, Modernizing Medicine

Keynote Lunch - How Women in Tech Can Enhance the Business Landscape

Tara Auclair, MBA, is Senior Marketing Communications Manager at Modernizing Medicine and loves helping to make Modernizing Medicine and its people more famous. In this role she is responsible for increasing brand equity by overseeing and participating in multiple aspects of marketing and communications including public relations, media and community relations, crisis communications, corporate social responsibility, social media, blog, website, customer reference program and more. She focuses on the planning and strategy of initiatives plus operations and execution, both cross functionally among departments and with external stakeholders. In addition, she's a senior leader of Modernizing Medicine Women in Innovation and Technology (MMwit), a community of men and women at Modernizing Medicine with a mission to develop and enable women to lead and innovate. Tara has a passion for the healthcare industry as evidenced by the various roles held in her over 15 years of experience.

Tara earned her BA from Tulane University and her MBA from Boston University. Dedicated to the community, Tara serves on the boards of the Peter Blum Family YMCA of Boca Raton, Alzheimer's Association of Southeast Florida and the Boca Chamber's Golden Bell Education Foundation where she also served as Co-chair and a band manager for the inaugural Battle of the Bands. In 2018, the Boca Chamber honored Tara with the Chair's Award. She's a long-time member of the Junior League of Boca Raton where she has held numerous leadership roles, a Team Captain for Boca Raton's Walk to End Alzheimer's, a volunteer at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and active in the Tulane Alumni Association. She is also a member of the Gold Coast PR Council.

Connect with Tara at www.linkedin.com/in/taraauclair.


Jane Barr

Executive Coach , Kinnexion, LLC

Storytelling Circles - What is Your Story? Is there a better way to tell your story? Your company's story? Your product story?

Jane Barr is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Master Facilitator for Regenerating Images in Memory and author of "WiseWoman Leadership.” Her heart is for promoting the growth of women leaders in technology. For 30 years she consulted with the national retail industry leading system, reengineering projects for companies such as CVS, GAP, and REI. Jane knows what it takes to deliver projects on time and on budget, to build strong teams, and to generate business worth millions of dollars. She is an active member of WITI and Corporate Alliance Chair for WITI/Tampa Bay.


Monique Betty


Nancy Dahlberg

Business & Entrepreneurship Writer

The Top Tech Trends for 2019: How can we take advantage of the opportunities globally and especially in South Florida

Nancy Dahlberg is a business writer, editor and researcher, with a passion for covering entrepreneurs and what makes them tick. Most of her writing and editing career was spent with the Miami Herald, most recently covering tech, startups and small business, and before that she was Business Monday editor, among other roles. She also has worked for the San Jose Mercury News (where she fell in love with business and tech) and the Orlando Sentinel. Nancy hosted the Starting Gate blog in the Miami Herald for five years, and it became the go-to site for entrepreneurship news, tools and community views. She ran the Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge contest for 10 years, drawing more than 200 entries annually, and hosted a popular Business Plan Bootcamp for five years. She freelances now, and writes about entrepreneurs every chance she can. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @ndahlberg. Let her tell your story.


Sasha Davidson, MD

Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, Medical Director - Signature Perinatal Center

Keynote Lunch - How Women in Tech Can Enhance the Business Landscape

Dr. Sasha Davidson is a double-board certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist. She is a native of South Florida who grew up in North Miami Beach and always maintained her roots in our area even after her departure to pursue her aspirations in medicine.

After completing her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Miami, she attended Georgetown University School of Medicine where she earned her medical degree. She completed her residency training in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland and her subspecialty training in Maternal Fetal Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Montefiore Medical Center in New York. As a National Health Service Scholar, she spent several years practicing as a generalist OB/GYN caring for women in Washington, DC and Maryland. Her passion to care for women with high-risk pregnancies led to her subspecialty training in Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) and she now provides consultation and comprehensive care for all pregnancies, especially those with complex medical, surgical and obstetrical conditions. She has implemented the use of technology in her practice to increase her presence in communities that lack MFM Specialists. She is currently collaborating with the development team in deploying Perinatal Access which will allow patients and primary care providers to connect with pregnancy specialists through remote technologies allowing for real-time video interaction.

Dr. Davidson is currently earning her Executive MBA in Health Sector Management and Policy at the University of Miami Business School. Her new practice Signature Perinatal Center in Fort Lauderdale is set to open March 2019.


Joanna Davis


Erik Day

VP & General Manager, North America Small Business, Dell Technologies

IT Expo Keynote

Erik Day has been at Dell (now Dell Technologies) for 18 years. During this tenure, Erik has held multiple sales, merchandising, operations and marketing leadership roles both domestically and internationally. As Vice President of Small Business, Erik's goal is to advocate for small business across the US and Canada and ensure they are receiving the IT necessary to help their businesses grow and thrive. He believes that Small Business is the growth engine of the global economy and that technology will help them achieve their goals. Just this year, Erik developed and launched Dell's new Small Business Advisor marketing campaign that focuses on how Dell can be a virtual IT advisor for your small business (https://youtu.be/Z16nZiVKd-c ). In May 2018, Erik graduated with his Masters of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX where he also received his Bachelors in 1994. Erik is an avid tennis player and a die-hard collegiate (SMU, UT Austin, Florida State, Michigan, Oregon, Northwestern) and Chicago Based (Blackhawks, Bears, Cubs) sports fan. He is heavily involved in advocating for workplace equality globally for Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgendered employees of all sized corporations. He is the Global Executive Chair of the PRIDE (LGBTAQ) Employee Resource Group at Dell Technologies and on the Board of Directors for Out & Equal Workplace Advocates this year. He has also served on the board of various other organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, AIDS Services of Austin, Nashville Cares and The Austin Tennis Club. He loves spending time at home in Austin or on Lake Michigan with his husband Craig and their 2 Samoyeds, Chester and Chase.


Angela De Sousa


Sheila Decoster


Linda Englander


Eryka Gemma Flores

CEO, Bitcoin Center Miami

The Top Tech Trends for 2019: How can we take advantage of the opportunities globally and especially in South Florida

Eryka Gemma is co-founder of Miami International Bitcoin, a media and events organization that understands that community is necessary to build business in this new decentralized economy. Eryka graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and a private pilot license. Before taking the leap into blockchain business, Eryka worked in traditional finance for the aircraft trading and leasing industry. She is a pioneer in combining aviation and blockchain and is developing a security token backed by aircraft.

Her affinity for blockchain technology stems from an appreciation for Austrian economics and honest politics. As a teenager, she was the youngest delegate in Washington State for the Ron Paul presidential campaign. The ability for blockchain to increase transparency, reduce corruption and eliminate human error drives Eryka to educate the local community towards mass adoption.

Eryka is also instrumental in building local tech business, she is opening the Bitcoin Center Miami, sits on the board of the Florida Blockchain Business Association and cofounded an event which caused the City of Miami to officially proclaim November 15th as Women's Entrepreneurship Day. She is a sought after speaker who aims to show young girls that women can be successful in STEM fields.


Sven Gade


Silka M. Gonzalez

Founder & President, ERMProtect

Silka Gonzalez is the founder and president of ERMProtect. Since 1998, ERMProtect has provided cybersecurity, computer forensics, and technical compliance services to more than 300 clients in 20 different industries worldwide. Silka has more than 30 years of experience in the field of cybersecurity.

Prior to founding ERMProtect, she was a manager of IT and business services at Price Waterhouse. She also served as Manager of Information Systems Auditing for Diageo PLC and Manager of Information Systems Security for American Bankers Insurance Group (now Assurant Solutions).

Silka received Bachelor's degrees in both Computer Information Systems and Accounting from Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio). She received her Master's degree in Accounting Information Systems from Florida International University (Miami, FL). Silka also completed an Entrepreneurial Master's Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Boston, MA). Silka's professional certifications include: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Systems Manager (CISM), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), and Payment Card Industry Qualified Security Assessor (PCI-QSA). Silka is a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Board Leadership Fellow.

Silka is a published author, addressing current issues in cybersecurity, IT auditing, regulatory compliance, and computer forensics. Silka is frequently sought out by local and national newspapers and magazines as a subject matter expert in cybersecurity. She also appears in local and national news as a cybersecurity expert.

Silka currently serves as a Board member of the Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA) and a member of Xavier University's President Council. She has previously served as president of the Miami chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors, and on the boards of ISACA South Florida (Information Systems Audit and Control Association) and ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting). She has also served on Florida's judicial nominating commission for workman's compensation judges.

Silka has served as an assistant professor for a graduate level IT Audit course at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Silka has also served as a coach for the University of Miami Entrepreneur Program.

Silka was raised on a coffee farm in the mountains of Puerto Rico. She enjoys nature, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family, friends and her miniature schnauzers. She resides in Coral Gables, Florida.


Julie Kantor

Founder & CEO, Twomentor LLC

Time to Navigate Your Leadership and Career Trajectory

Julie Kantor is an "all-in," roll-up-your-sleeves leader and social impact entrepreneur committed to building mentoring cultures to drive employee engagement and elevating women in the STEM workforce. In 2017 she stepped up as Co-Chair for Leadership Greater Washington Signature program and has chaired multiple conferences focused on women in the workforce, STEM, and entrepreneurship. Ms. Kantor's fifth start-up, Twomentor, LLC, focuses on elevating women in STEM and retaining a skilled diverse workforce, building on her 24 years in workforce development and building movements including Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (former Executive Director 1992- 2012 of DC Region, Boston, National VP) and Million Women Mentors (team lead and Chief Partnership Officer).

Ms. Kantor is well networked to the national community of top business, academic, nonprofit, and government leaders. She has worked and consulted with clients such as: Cisco, Samsung, Tata (TCS), Intel, Sony, BP, Ernst & Young, The Federal Reserve Bank, The World Bank, American University's Kogod School of Business, Anthem Inc., Barilla, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Stratasys, UPS and more. She recently gave a TEDx style presentation to 400 Millennials from 85 countries at the UN on social impact.


Nina Kukuskina


Claire Lidome


Renee Lopez-Cantera

VP Business Development , Eikon Digital

The Top Tech Trends for 2019: How can we take advantage of the opportunities globally and especially in South Florida

Mrs. Lopez-Cantera resides with her family in Miami and is a native Floridian who received her undergraduate degree at Tulane University and MBA at the University of Miami with specialties in Marketing and Finance.

She has spent the last 20 years working in various leadership positions in consumer marketing. She has specialized in digital strategy since 1999 for varied sectors such as: the media, real estate, political, entrepreneurial and consumer product ventures.

Currently, Renee is the VP of Business Development at Eikon Digital, a programmatic media agency where she works with companies and ad agencies to enhance client growth via online sales. Over her 20+ career tenure, she has also led product development teams and partnerships with entrepreneurial organizations such as Emerge Americas and Enterprise Florida.

Mrs. Lopez-Cantera is a dedicated community activist and serves as an executive board member and advocate for many organizations both for non-profits and in the corporate arena as a business advisor. Renee has been awarded several awards for her community service and business acumen. In 2017, she was a recipient of the distinguished Knight Foundation scholarship for Women in Tech held by the Commonwealth Forum. In this capacity, Renee and her colleagues focus on advancing and implementing emerging technologies in their respective fields. Renee also is an advisory board member at the University of Miami Marketing Board, and the University of Miami Department of Computing.


Coleen McCray

Executive/Career Coach, Paragon Coaching Group/Industry Experience

With over 30 years of leadership experience in IT VP and Director roles and an expert bridge builder, Coleen McCray currently is responsible for Acquisition Integration at Inmar where she leads a corporatewide team that works to join acquired firms with Inmar and achieve exponential growth. In prior roles in the financial services and law firm software industries, Ms. McCray led the realignment of software development organizations to meet product demand and built trusted organizations that engendered cooperation and genuine alliances between IS organizations and their stakeholders needed to achieve maximized value-based results.

Expert in developing leaders and assisting seasoned leaders with path formation to their goals, Ms. McCray is a Board Certified Coach (BCC) and an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC). She is also an Executive Coach for the WITI PowerSource Coaching Program, the CIO Executive Council Pathways program, and President of her own company, The Paragon Coaching Group. She holds an MBA from Wake Forest University, an MS in Counseling from Stetson University, and a BS in Economics from Duke University. She is a graduate of the College of Executive Coaching and a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and the NeuroLeadership Institute. As well, Ms. McCray is a Certified Facilitator for Meyers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) as well as for Conversational Intelligence™, The Results System™, EQI 2.0/EQI 360, and Center for Creative Leadership Suite of Assessments.


Clare Merlo


Eileen Monesson


Cindy Montgenie


Patricia Ojeda

Management Consultant in Marketing, Operations and IT. Executive Coach & Mentor., PMO Business

The Top Tech Trends for 2019: How can we take advantage of the opportunities globally and especially in South Florida

Patricia is passionate about the IT industry and business process expert, with an extensive record of increasing productivity, systems efficiency, and profit margins through the implementation of advanced technological solutions and methodologies. She is adept at managing all aspects of information technology, including business needs assessment, SDLC, sourcing, services and systems implementation. I am known by the identification of opportunities, analyzing operations, and the development of winning solutions.Business knowledge of multiple industries including IT Services, Banking, Business Services, and NGO.


Angela Polania

Principal, Elevate

The Top Tech Trends for 2019: How can we take advantage of the opportunities globally and especially in South Florida

Angela is a multifaceted information technology and business professional with over seventeen years of professional services experience in the areas of information security, compliance and process improvement. Angela is the CEO of Elevate, a Information Technology and Security Consulting Company headquarted in South Florida working with Financial Services, Technology, Healthcare, Hospitality and Insurance middle market companies.

Angela began her career working for large international consulting firms: Arthur Andersen and Deloitte, departing as an Experienced Manager. Angela managed large scale assurance and consulting engagements which required working with international offices and client locations in Latin America and Europe.

Angela has a Bachelor degree in Accounting and a Bachelor degree in Management Information systems from Florida International University. She is Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Healthcare Information Security and Privacy Professional (CHISPP), Certified IT Risk Assessor (CRISC) and ITIL (IT service delivery) V3 Certified. Angela is the Treasurer for the South Florida CIO Council and member of the IT Audit and Control Organization (ISACA).


Dr. Sara Rushinek

Professor of Business Technology and Health Informatics, University of Miami

Keynote Lunch - How Women in Tech Can Enhance the Business Landscape

The Top Tech Trends for 2019: How can we take advantage of the opportunities globally and especially in South Florida

Sara Rushinek is a Professor of Business Technology and Health Informatics at the University of Miami Business School. She is also a Professor in the Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Investigation (MSCTI) Research Program at the Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Rushinek specializes in Expert and Artificial Intelligence Systems, Big Data Analytics, cutting-edge Hybrid Collaborative Tools & Techniques, SEO App Development, Computer Litigation Support, Health Informatics, Cyber Security, Blockchain Applications, and Automated Algorithmic Trading Systems. She serves on the Leadership Team of WITI (Women in Technology International), the Government Blockchain Association, and as an Academic Advocate for ISACA. As well, she serves as an advisor, consultant, and mentor to the business, tech, and startup community.

Dr. Rushinek has been a visiting Professor at the University of Southern California (USC), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Tel Aviv University, and the Technion. She earned her undergraduate degree from Tel Aviv University and her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.


Dr. Avi Rushinek

Associate Professor, Accounting , University of Miami

Keynote Lunch - How Women in Tech Can Enhance the Business Landscape

Avi Rushinek is an Accounting Professor at the University of Miami. His research interests include data analytics, blockchain, business intelligence, algorithmic formulation for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Trading Systems, forensic accounting, fraud examination, and mobile app development. Dr. Rushinek is on the editorial board of Journal of Forensic and Investigative Accounting, IT Journal, and the Journal of Forensic Accounting. Dr Avi Rushinek is a prolific author and frequently presents at Academic and Business Conferences and consults with Healthcare and Hi-Tech companies. His awards received include the Microcomputer Auditing Grant Award from PWC, Technology Grants from Microsoft, Panasonic, Sony Corporations, the Distinguished Service Award from the Dade Chapter of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and Research Award from the University of Miami School of Business. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and B.A. from Tel Aviv University in Israel.


Susan Ryan

Coach and Speaker, Creative Business Coaches


Bari Schanerman


Theresa Semmens

AVP Chief Information Security Officer, University of Miami

Keynote Lunch - How Women in Tech Can Enhance the Business Landscape

As a member of the University of Miami Information Technology (UMIT) Executive Cabinet, Theresa Semmens serves a key role by working closely with senior administration, academic leaders, health system leaders, and the university community to optimize security for the organization's information assets and resources. She is an advocate for the University of Miami's information security needs, and is responsible for the development and delivery of a comprehensive information security vision and strategy. In her position, she leads the development and implementation of a strategic security program that leverages collaborations, partnerships, university-wide information resources, information security governance, designs appropriate policies and procedures to manage information security risk and advises senior leadership on security direction and resource investments.

Prior to joining UMIT, Semmens worked for North Dakota State University (NDSU) as the CISO. There, she was responsible for creating, overseeing, coordinating, and evaluating processes to build an information security vision and strategy, which included security policies, procedures, risk management and assessment. While at NDSU, she reviewed contracts, software and service licenses, and agreements that contained IT components of security and regulatory compliance - in particular, evaluating matters related to HIPPA, FERPA, GLBA, and applicable protection of information and privacy laws. She collaborated and developed partnerships with vice presidents, deans, directors, chairs, faculty, staff, and students on needs and projects that required and included elements of information security. She also developed and managed the information security awareness and training programs.

Semmens has a BS in computer information science and two master's degrees, one in business administration and another in management, from the University of Mary, North Dakota.

She is an active volunteer for EDUCAUSE and Internet 2, and is currently serving on REN-ISAC (Research and Education Network Information Sharing and Analysis Center) Governance Board.


Meital Stavinsky

Partner, Holland & Knight

Keynote Lunch - How Women in Tech Can Enhance the Business Landscape

Meital Stavinsky is a Miami and Washington D.C. attorney, member of Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Group and Co-Chair of the firm's Israel Practice. She focuses her practice on business and government relations, with a particular emphasis on Israeli emerging and advanced technologies companies.

Ms. Stavinsky assists Israeli companies seeking to enter the U.S. market and expand their operations in the United States. She has successfully matched Israeli companies with strategic partners, potential joint ventures and other business-to-business connections.

In her work with innovative companies, Ms. Stavinsky advises advanced technologies companies that provide a beneficial social or environmental impact in the areas of innovative agriculture technology, clean technology and transportation.

In addition, she has worked on a wide range of U.S. congressional and federal legislative matters. She has experience with various federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Ms. Stavinsky is certified by the U.S. Green Building Council as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). She has a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles, as well as the LEED rating system.


Speakers and Sessions are Subject to Change