Featured Speaker(s)

MODERATOR:
Dee Fleming, Director, Lotus WW Technical Sales
leads IBM’s Workplace, Portals and Collaboration Software division (aka Lotus), consisting of a global team of 350 technical sales specialists who focus on overcoming technical issues and barriers to sales and customer success.

Dee began her IT career pretty much by accident. An Office Services Supervisor who had responsibility for the PBX telephone system, Dee was responsible for managing telephone adds, moves, and changes in a healthcare HQ facility. These were performed by an external vendor. But the technology intrigued her�" so she rolled up her sleeves and learned the technical details by working closely with the vendor. When times got lean, the entire Office Services staff was laid off, except Dee. She was kept on to perform the work that was previously outsourced. So pulling cables and punching wires became a daily routine. Left without a Manager, the company decided to send Dee to IT. She has never looked back.

"IBM is serious about helping women in technology roles," Dee relates, "They are also quite serious about mentoring �" which is a process that I firmly believe in. With the help of four solid mentors throughout my career, I am an Executive at IBM today."




Jennifer Francis
Senior Vice President/Partner, CBRE Whitter Partners
Jennifer has performed corporate service advisory and brokerage services to an array of clients that include Fleet Bank/Bank of America, Eastern Bank, Thermo Electron, Envirotest Systems, and Unicco Service Company. As a member of the Downtown Boston leasing team, she is responsible for CB Richard Ellis’ performance on a range of services including brokerage and portfolio analysis/management oversight.

Prior to joining CB Richard Ellis in 1998, Jennifer was with The Gunwyn Company for over eight years. As the company’s Vice President, her responsibilities included asset management, leasing, and project management for a portfolio of commercial, retail and residential buildings.

Recently, Jennifer was recognized as one of Boston's Top Ten leading commercial real estate advisors by Women's Business.

Susan Ifill
Senior Vice President, Premier Banking & Investments, Bank of America
Susan is currently building out the South West Suburban Market for the Northeast Premier Division. She leads a group of 24 Premier Client Managers, responsible for a $3.2 billion portfolio, acquisition of eligible clients, portfolio growth.

Prior to her current role, Susan was the Director of both the Trust Advisory Group and the Client Distribution Group, in the Private Bank for FleetBoston Financial. She led a team of trust officers and relationship administrators, responsible for the administration and oversight of a $3 billion portfolio, generating $32 million in annual revenue. She also created and directed Employee Banking Services for Fleet and before that held various senior management roles in Corporate Learning & Development, and the Retail Banking Division.

Susan serves on the Board of Directors for The Greater Boston Food Bank, Board of Trustees for Cambridge College, and as Treasurer for the Museum of Afro-American History.

Susan did her undergraduate work at Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth). She received her Masters in Management and certification in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Cambridge College.

Janet Sweeney
Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Putnam Investments
Janet is a Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for the West Region
overseeing the West internal wholesalers. In this role, she oversees Putnam’s telemarketing efforts, both inbound and outbound, for the West Region.

Prior to this role, Janet was an Employee Development Manager, overseeing all training programs for the internal sales desk. Prior to moving into management positions she was a Regional Marketing Director wholesaling Financial Institutions in the New England states for Putnam. As a Putnam wholesaler she earned the Top Gun award in recognition of her outstanding sales.

Ms. Sweeney joined Putnam in 1987 and has over 20 years experience in the investment industry and graduated Boston College, B.A. Before joining Putnam she worked at Tucker Anthony as a Sales Assistant, Unit Investment Trust Wholesaler from 1983 �" 1987