Demetrice Browder, an engineer with IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York, leads a team of test technicians to ensure mainframe products are functioning to specifications. 

Browder’s first assignment put him in front of a mainframe computer system with the goal of finding any problems that could be lurking within the machine. Now Browder is leading the testing of a major delivery for IBM’s most powerful mainframe computer being used by Fortune 500 companies all over the world.

Virginia Packer, an engineer with IBM in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, is a Technology Solution Manager bringing software and server solutions to market. 

Packer aligns people, budgets, and priorities to ensure the successful execution of technology solutions that are in sync with IBM’s product releases. She establishes detailed technology enablement plans and utilizes project management and negotiation to effectively drive IBM technology initiatives. 

T. Williams, an engineer with Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc. in Erlanger, Kentucky, assists Minority Business Enterprises in becoming suppliers for Toyota.

Williams is responsible for ensuring that Toyota’s supplier diversity goals and objectives are met. Under her direction, Toyota purchased $600 million from Minority Business Enterprises in 2002. She also coordinates Toyota’s Annual Opportunity Exchange, a trade fair and conference intended to build lasting relationships between Toyota’s suppliers and MBEs.

Kenneth Woolridge, an engineer at Dow Chemical Company in Freeport, Texas, is the subject matter expert for extrusion blow molding, pipe, and thermoforming.

Woolridge works in the Customer Technical Support Center for Polyolefins and Elastomers developing the fundamental control logic and troubleshooting techniques needed to support customers. 

Nicole Brown, an engineer with Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. in Jackson Heights, New York, is an expert in water treatment processes and water treatment plant design.

Brown helped prepare New York City for severe drought conditions in response to the 2002 drought emergency, evaluating existing conditions and designing improvements for the NYC Groundwater System. She also helped provide the design basis for selection and sizing of the treatment processes at a full-scale plant to expand New York’s drinking water supply system.