Women of the UA Tech Park 2022
Tech Parks Arizona honors women of the UA Tech Park every March in celebration of National Women's History Month. This past year, more than ever has challenged the tenacity, adaptability, and spirits of all people across the country, including our community at the UA Tech Park. As we approach this new year, we see 2021 as a transformational year filled with new business tactics and a greater appreciation for community. We have learned exactly how vital it is to uplift and empower one another. Many women have stepped up and step out to succeed despite the trying times. We are especially honored this year to recognize these impressive women and their contributions to driving innovation forward.
We are excited for the opportunity to come together on a global digital platform and celebrate the amazing women of the UA Tech Park as they share their personal stories. Our hope is that you are inspired by what you hear, and take a moment to connect with the Tech Park family through social media and panel discussions. Each woman’s story is shared to help empower others and express the unique attributes that make one successful. Their greatness does not go unnoticed, these extraordinary ladies carry out our mission to promote research and education, technology innovation and commercialization. We aim to celebrate the women of our campus not just during Women’s History Month, but all year-long because their intelligence, contributions, and uniqueness radiate all 365 days of the year. Here’s to you, ladies! Thank you for being so remarkable.
Yvonne Davis
Assistant Vice President for Costco Service, Citi
I am a woman of strength. There were so many times I wanted to give up, but I knew I could not let it define me. I didn’t know how hard the road would be, but I always managed to get myself back up no matter what I was dealing with. Facing difficult challenges and overcoming them built my self-confidence, taught me self-control, and tends to foster an attitude of conscientiousness towards others, who may also face difficulties. Adversity, painful and something we all hope to avoid, can have a positive impact on our character. We acquire qualities such as persistence, self-control, conscientiousness, self-confidence, and curiosity from experiences with adversity and it is these qualities that matter, perhaps more than training and specific on-the-job skills when it comes to success in life.
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Betsy Cantwell
Senior Vice President, Research and Innovation, The University of Arizona
I am a woman of innovation. I love my ability to view everything from a lens of “what is interesting with this?” thus finding unconventional perspectives. From a young age, I had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. My father, an MIT professor, fostered this desire. I felt the need to be his peer and match up to his intellect. I had an infinity for engineers and saw how fundamental they are. When I was coming up through the ranks of engineers, there were very few women and none in leadership. I quickly began to form my own upward trajectory. I am a transparent communicator. I challenged the status quo which often led to deep positive transformations. I was mindful to bring people up the corporate ladder as I climbed. I understood the peculiar challenges one faced when moving forward without a role model therefore I am a huge advocate of mentorships. As I persevered, I was promoted. I was appointed to newly created posts and higher levels of influence. I often developed the playbook while running the play. Engineering is an amazing launching pad for me. I learned that engineering, like life, has some hard rules we must abide by some softer guidelines that we achieve, and a whole lot of flexibility to apply our judgment. Now, it gives me the opportunity to create pathways for other women, women in STEM, our future innovators, leaders, and mother of our world."
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Calline Sanchez
Vice President, IBM Global TSS Service Planning and Premium Support; AZ and NM SSE, Tucson SLE
I am a woman of confidence. Born in Las Cruces and the eldest of 6 siblings. Our family moved to Arizona when my father, Dr. Charles Sanchez became the Director of the Yuma Agricultural Research Center and became a Research Scientist in Soils, Water and Environmental Sciences, School of Agriculture at the University of Arizona. From a young age, the importance of education and hard work was instilled in us. As part of the top 1% in my high school graduating class, I had the opportunity to go to college anywhere. Chose the University of Arizona based on my Wildcat pride and it is the fiscally responsible choice. After obtaining my first degree, IBM hired me and supported my educational journey starting with my BS in Management Information Systems, MBA with emphasis on Finance and Information Technology course at HBS. As I advanced within IBM, I gained a reputation for transformational leadership and exhibiting an open mindset. I enjoyed learning how to use my voice with confidence, communicating with authenticity and appropriate transparency. Each new position brought a new challenge where an open mind is pivotal. My work is very rewarding. I love what I do. I have lead badass global teams that deliver global technology solutions. I am proud to be an active part of the Tucson community - passionate about celebrating women in STEM, partnering with the local Girl Scouts/SARSEF, and enabling doors of opportunity in the business world. I see life as a grand adventure and IBM as a great BIG candy store. I eat new foods when I travel. I take time to play and teach myself new things. I don’t believe in bad ideas - creative thinking is a process and often the solution is found through exploration. Be authentic. Use your voice with confidence. Don't eat too much candy!
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Venita Martinez
Senior Software Engineer, IBM
I am a woman of determination. As a child, I did not have very many opportunities. But that didn’t stop me from working hard to be a good reader or a better student. I knew reading was fundamental to my success. I never gave up. I overcame my deficits, pulled it all together, and was proud to graduate summa cum laude. Now, I volunteer teaching kids how to read. I encourage them to never to give up. I am grateful that IBM has been there for me through the ups and downs. They have given me opportunities to grow. I found my voice. Fear doesn't stop me from getting to the bottom of an issue. We all bring different perspectives. We are all capable of successful STEM careers.
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Theresa Conner
Software Development Area Management Lead, Raytheon
I am a woman of connections. I realized about 15 years ago that my family genuinely is my purpose, I have begun to meld into the matriarch my mother has maintained for over 60 years. I work very hard every day to maintain a positive relationship with my family from my Mother down to my granddaughters. Success to me is seeing them happy and healthy. I have worked very hard over the years commuting from Arizona to Chicago to be at every school and sporting event, graduation, hospital stay to maintain a strong bond with my girls. They are both college graduates, intelligent, beautiful, and strong ambitious young women. And I see the same for my Granddaughters who are 2 and 4. My success is their success, passing on the strength and skills I learned and gained from my Mother and grandmother.
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Isela Villanueva
Senior Vice President of Branded Card Collections, Citi
I am a woman of responsibility. Responsibility means stepping up and owning my actions and words. That is who I am. It means trusting my instincts.
Taking responsibility allows me to be in charge of my destiny. By nature I am inquisitive, and that makes me active instead of passive. I celebrate cultivating intellectual curiosity.
It is also my responsibility to help every person that walks in my path reach their potential of greatness. I strive to teach others how to break through glass ceilings. I champion diversity and inclusion by building a supportive workplace, upholding strong values, and recognizing everyone’s accomplishments.
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Cheryl Wolhart
Client Services Manager - Retirement Division, Ascensus
I am a woman of compassion. Anything less than giving my very best is not an option. I grew up on a farm and worked from sunup to sundown. I am proud of what I have accomplished in my career. Having a title is not what is important to me, it is about having a good reputation and helping my employees reach their full potential. I have dedicated my entire career in the financial industry which back in the day was male-dominated and very few women were in leadership. I am fortunate to work for a company that rewards hard work regardless of gender. I started out in an entry-level position and always sought growing opportunities, even taken lateral moves to do something new. Now I am a manager and lead others by being their champion along the way. Seeing their strengths and ability to successfully motivate me to inspire more people each day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miriam Duarte
Executive Assistant, Optum Rx
I am a woman of kindness. Never underestimate a kind woman. Kindness is a choice that comes from incredible strength. Being kind not only has a direct effect on others, but it has a positive impact on yourself as well. I have always taught my children and now my grandchildren, to do acts of kindness for others, not because of who they are or what they will do in return, but because it’s the good thing for them to do. Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver. Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melissa Davis
Lab Manager and Special Projects Coordinator, Tech Parks Arizona
I am a woman of ambition. I am a lifelong learner and a hard worker. Just like moving water, I never allow myself to be stagnant, seeking change. I hunger for knowledge to bring improvement to myself and my family. I am a woman who is decisive and intentional about my time. I make decisions that align with my future goals. I am a woman who thrives both personally and professionally. I strive to inspire those around me and work hard to be better for myself and my family every day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Krystal Hernandez
Executive Assistant, Raytheon
I am a woman of love. I’m so blessed to have been raised by an amazing mother who exemplified unconditional love. Growing up with the bare minimum, I was taught how to maximize, appreciate, and give what I did have which quantified to things not sold in any store, rather, by all the good things instilled in my heart. This has shaped me into who I am as a mother and why I am able love with all I have. Love is only the beginning; courage, strength, ambition, confidence, and kindness are the fruits in which it bears. Love and be loved! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kristin Petersen
Executive Assistant, Integral Healthcare Solutions
I am a woman of resilience. If I get knocked down, I will get back up. Every day we make choices to be resilient and believe in ourselves. When you find yourself surrounded in shadow look for the light. And if it feels like it's not there. become it! It takes a great amount of faith to overcome fear, and even though circumstances may be beyond our control, we have a choice as to how we are going to respond. I have a realistic optimism that situations will work out, even though it requires hard work on my part. I trust myself and follow my intuition and know that no matter what storm may come my way, I will rise above because I am resilient. Be the light!
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Ivon Loomis
Manager, Ascensus
I am a woman of joyfulness. If there is anything that has helped me get through life it is laughter. Give yourself permission to laugh – long and out loud – whenever anything strikes you as funny. The people around you may think you are strange, but sooner or later they’ll join in even if they don’t know what you’re laughing about. Laughing is and always will be, the best form of therapy.
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Clarissa Holguin
Ascensus
I am a woman of endless boundaries. I am outspoken and proud to be my authentic self. Too often we are told to live in a particular box with limitations, but I now know this is not my truth. I remove the obstacles to see past the established boundaries and I pioneered my own unique path. I embrace my entire self and want my truthfulness to help others feel comfortable. I value all the trials and tribulations that have led me to be my resilient self. I grow strong daily. At this very moment, I am shaping my future. There are so many possibilities. I know that dreaming of my success is not just a dream. I work for it.
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Janelle Briggs
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Stackhouse
Janelle Briggs- Stackhouse- CO-Founder & CEO I am a woman of courage. I am grateful to be biracial and for my two parents who raised me with strong beliefs and rich culture. My dad is the strong silent type and my mom is a ray of sunshine, both characteristics are woven deep into who I am. I value who I am and fight for what I believe in. I have found my voice and place and will not give up on my dreams. I am an entrepreneur and pick up my passion day after day, regardless of the obstacles. To be courageous is a choice I make every day.
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Carmen Tineo
Project Manager, Citi
Carmen Tineo- Citi- Project Manager I am a woman of tenacity. I don’t give up. I set the bar high and once I achieve my goal, I set the next bar higher. I am a highly driven person. I wake up every morning, thank God and do everything with love and passion and live that day for that purpose. I am part of a close family built on faith. I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and a mother that does not give up I have learned so much from what my family has gone through. You can call me stubborn, but I call it passionate. Each person in my life has taught me to be tenacious. My mother has always been my hero, someone who has survived, conquered, and still lives as the amazing Latina she is today. Her and my grandma set my foundation, my root. my life grows from the seed of belief that I can do whatever I put my mind to. My mom has inspired my sister and I to be amazing mothers, to be bold, strong, confident, independent, and intelligent. We teach these virtues to our children. To my son, I impart the best of who I am. May my thoughts be taught, my example seen, and my love felt, and let that guide you to overcome and be more than a conqueror just like your mom.
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Sheri Jackson
SAN Quality Assurance Architect, IBM
I am a woman of inspiration. I come from a large close family, that always stressed the importance of education and our traditional values. My Navajo name is Kéhazbaa, given to me by my maternal grandmother when I was born, meaning to journey with peace, positive good vibes and relationships with everyone around me. This describes my passion for helping others. One of my father’s teaching is to get up early before the sunrise and greet the day with a prayer and a humble run. Incorporating some type of physical fitness routine to start my day has helped with my personal growth. Running has helped me deal with daily stress, giving me fuel for my day. My mom always told us, all you have to say is Hózhóogo Naasháa Doo which means to go forth with peace, balance, beauty and harmony. I bring meaning to this by the way I live each day: respect for myself, respect for mother earth, and respect for others. These are all ways that I encourage my kids to live a healthy/balanced lifestyle. As a native woman in STEM, it gives me a unique opportunity to combine my traditional values and engineering principles into innovative ideas. It means being a role model for today’s youth, including my children. I want to inspire other women in STEM as well to be innovators.
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Gina Alverez
Service Account Manager, Optum Rx
I am a woman of hope. I look different, I carry myself differently, but it doesn’t make me less successful or better than the next person. I love to be what others don’t expect me to be. I value those who have always paved the way for my successes. It has empowered me to give hope to those that feel they will never be more than what you see. I am a born survivor, a fighter, and a victor because my experiences have shaped my life. I approach challenges head-on. I succeed because I face issues head-on. I welcome you to experience my world, only then will you realize you have no right to criticize me, only hope to be as strong as me.
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Holly Griffin
Chief Financial Officer & Cheif Operational Officer, NP Photonics
I am a woman of passion. My passion fuels my drive and determination to overcome challenges, continuously improve and give my very best to all situations. Just when I reach the success, I believe I want, I realize there is more to learn, more to embrace, more areas where I can grow. I am constantly striving for improvement and always aiming for excellence. I am a straight shooter and often deliver tough truths which ultimately help others grow while also helping me learn how to be a better leader, mentor, and manager. I want to inspire people by example but also demonstrate humanity through failure and success in rebounding from those failures. I have overcome more challenges than I can count and that is what helps me lead. I understood who I wanted to be and where I wanted to go but like many, I am still not sure which path gets me there, but I am embracing my journey. We cannot change others, but we can change our perspective, knowledge base and environment. Use that as your compass, remember that true north is different for each person. Keep raising that bar and growing. I don’t have all the answers, but I know my worth and I am dedicated to helping others realize theirs as well.
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Felicia Valenzuela
Executive Administrator, Citi
I am a woman of adventure. We live in a world right now that makes every day a challenge. Even though this past year has felt like a constant drumbeat of one crisis after another, it is important to remember that we have also seen unprecedented hope, bold action, and solidarity. As we work to meet the challenges that arise, we cannot lose sight of our goal, a brighter future that everyone can share. We need to believe in ourselves to reshape a uniquely united world. We must stay focused on our potential, as individuals and as a community, to propel change. What we do now, together, will shape what happens next. I personally cannot wait to start this adventure.
