Black Women in Association Tech. How did they do it?
Join us for an inspiring and candid discussion about the journeys of Black women in association technology, including how they navigated their careers, overcame obstacles, and made their mark in the industry.
Our panel will share their experiences, insights, and advice for those looking to thrive in the association tech space.
This event is brought to you by AWTC and BAE.
Speakers
Chantal Almonord, CAE
Director
ISPOR
Chief Information & Engagement Officer
Chantal Almonord, CAE currently serves as the Chief Information & Engagement Officer at ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research. In her role, she oversees digital product strategy, IT services & business systems, and data strategy, aligning them with ISPOR's mission. Chantal also leads member services and global engagement activities, showcasing her commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation within the organization. Her past involvement in ASAE's Empowered Women subcommittee and current work with Technology Professionals Advisory Committee (TPAC) underscores her dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion within the industry. Chantal received the prestigious 2022 AWTC Technology Champion Award and now serves on the board of directors on the Association Women Technology Champions.
Monica Pemberton
Director
American Council on Education (ACE)
Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Monica Pemberton is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the American Council on Education (ACE), where she drives technological advancements and ensures secure system functioning. Before joining ACE, Monica was the Chief Technology Officer at the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), leading pivotal technology initiatives.
Monica is not just a leader in her field, but a part of a larger community of professionals. She serves on the Technology Professionals Advisory Council of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), is a board member for the Association of Women Technology Champions (AWTC), and is the President for the Blacks in Technology (BIT) Alexandria, Virginia chapter. Her involvement in these organizations is a testament to her commitment to the field and her desire to connect with and learn from her peers.
Monica's dedication to promoting diversity in technology careers has not gone unnoticed. Her efforts earned her the prestigious 2023 Diversity Women Media Elite 100 award. But Monica's impact goes beyond accolades. She extends her influence by mentoring black and brown students in technology, a testament to her commitment to the next generation. Her passion for leveraging technology for organizational success and fostering inclusivity continues to make valuable contributions at the intersection of information technology, higher education, and associations.
Adrienne Bryant, CAE
Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA)
Program Director
Adrienne Bryant, CAE currently serves as Program Director for the Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA) where she oversees the certification program, the Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP) and is staff liaison to the CXPA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. Additionally, Adrienne helps drive technological initiatives to ensure the CXPA is valued for the mechanisms it provides to achieve customer experience success. Before joining the CXPA, Adrienne was the Associate Director, Membership, Programs, and Information Systems.
With a combined 35+ years of experience in teaching, hospitality management, and association management, Adrienne loves to help organizations identify and solve challenges. Her work in education, hospitality, and associations has given her great insight into the mind of the customer, allowing her to truly put the customer first as she works to design and create the best experience from beginning to end.
Adrienne loves finding new and innovative ways to help staff, members, volunteer leaders, and herself to work smarter, not harder, more efficiently and more effectively through the use of technology.
Rose LeJiste
RL Engineering and Tech Solutions
CEO
Rose LeJiste is the CEO of RL Engineering and Tech Solutions, a consulting firm whose primary clients consist of government agencies, government contractors, and corporations. Rose holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from UCF and then moved on to establish a foundation in her career during her 15 years at Kennedy Space Center. She is an expert in solutions development and has over 20 years of expertise in advanced data analytics, business intelligence, AI, robotic process automation, process analysis, process reengineering, root cause analysis, frontend and backend solution development, and performance management. She holds professional certifications in business intelligence, data analytics, and Lean Six Sigma. She became a tech CEO in 2019 when she founded RL Engineering and Tech Solutions.
Rose plays an active role as an advocate and collaborator in the Florida innovation and tech community. She sits on the Impact Board for Synapse Florida and is on the Board of Directors for First Tee Central Florida. She has been an active member of Black Women in AI for over 4 years and has participated in multiple AI, machine learning, autonomous vehicles, and computer vision projects, which the organization led in ongoing partnership with NVIDIA. Rose was named a 2023 Orlando Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Honoree, 2023 NAWBO Orlando's Women Who Win Established Business Award, and is an alumna of Leadership Orlando Class 103.
Rose's ecosystem-building work includes, but is not limited to, a two-year tenure as Executive Director of an Orlando-based tech nonprofit committed to accelerating minority economic advancement through careers and entrepreneurship in tech; developing and facilitating entrepreneurial development programs that equipped underrepresented startup founders with business knowledge, skill sets, education, and resources; leading an initiative focused on assessing the small business ecosystem in the Orange County/Orlando area; creating a business certification program focused on small minority-owned businesses with the objective of educating, instructing, guiding, and assisting qualified participants in obtaining Florida business enterprise certifications, with the goal of improving and increasing equitable business opportunities for the target audience.
Rose also uses her experience to speak at various tech conferences, mentor and provide guidance to young people of color, and enjoys volunteering within her community, sharing her lessons learned from life experiences and her STEM expertise.