Featured Speaker(s)

Elizabeth Cholawsky is vice president and general manager of the IT Support business line at Citrix, which encompasses all GoToAssist products and the company’s flagship remote support capabilities. Her leadership has helped establish and maintain the company’s number one position in the remote support market as well as its continued innovation behind SaaS-based IT services for small and medium-sized businesses. Previously, as Vice President of Products and Client Services for the Online Services division of Citrix, Elizabeth elevated the customer experience to the highest level of excellence and satisfaction, driving significant product growth that helped to establish Citrix among the top five global SaaS providers. Prior to joining Citrix, Elizabeth held senior executive-level positions spanning product management, marketing, customer service and business analysis, contributing to the high growth of companies such as Commission Junction, ValueClick and Move, Inc. She holds a Ph.D. in political science and statistics from the University of Minnesota and a B.A. in government and statistics from Franklin and Marshall College. On the personal front, she is an avid triathlete and a strong supporter of Exceeding Expectations, which teaches at-risk kids to move their lives in a positive direction, using the sport of triathlon as the vehicle.

Jessica Firestone, Founder, President and CEO of Tempest Telecom Solutions LLC. Tempest helps network operators build, expand and maintain their networks quickly and cost effectively. Under Firestone’s leadership, Tempest was recognized in 2013 for numerous growth and financial accomplishments such as being named of the nation’s Top 50 Fastest Growing Women Owned Businesses by the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO). Jessica is a 2013 finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Los Angeles chapter and recently spoke on the “Diversity Means Business” panel at the 2012 Ernst & Young, Strategic Growth Forum. In 2012, Firestone was a recipient of a scholarship from Tempest’s customer, AT&T, to attend Stanford’s Institute of Design “Design Thinking Boot Camp: From Insights to Innovation.”

Tommie Rae Barnett is a Sales Executive for Cox Business and a strategic sales/business development professional who combines integrity and knowledge of customer drivers to gain strong support both within executive and operational organizations. As a global citizen with extensive international business experience, she is community minded both from the broad and local scope. Able to apply technological advances to help clients differentiate themselves in their market, she is seen as a critical part of their internal teams. Always an entreprenier within the large corporate structure, she is an expert in engaging resources and gaining commitment and enthusiasm.

As a founding member and Chair of Corporate Fundraising of Women in Technology International’s (WITI) Santa Barbara Network, she closely coordinated with local leaders Citrix, UCSB TMP, Mentor Corporation, Rightscale, and Cox Communication resulting in the network’s strong growth and success within this first year.

Enjoying greatly the close proximity of her family and her favorite position as Nana to Sydney, Bailey, Ethan, Bliss and Be; her weekends are filled with laughter and bubbles, as well as committee meetings for various local non-profits.