About our Conference for Women Presenters

Our speakers will share with us the skills, talents and experiences that made it possible for them to succeed, how they overcame obstacles to success, the strategies they've discovered for balancing the demands of career and the other important aspects of their lives, and what they wish they'd known before embarking on their ventures.

Keynote Presenter

Sarah Parker, Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court

Chief Justice Sarah Parker was appointed to her position by Governor Easley on February 6, 2006. Justice Parker is the only woman on the seven-member North Carolina Supreme Court - and only the third woman chief justice in North Carolina. As chief justice, Parker hopes to boost legislative funding of the court system, make the courts more efficient and expand family and drug-treatment courts. Before becoming a judge two decades ago, she was a corporate lawyer for 15 years. Parker, a Charlotte native, earned her undergraduate and law degrees at UNC-Chapel Hill. After working in private practice, she was appointed to the N.C. Court of Appeals in 1984. She served there until 1993, when she joined the Supreme Court.

"I think it is special for a lot of women to have a woman chief justice," Parker said. "I think it sends a good signal to a lot of women out there about what they can aspire to." [From Raleigh News & Observer article.]

Panelists

Arlinda Locklear, attorney, Washington DC
Arlinda Locklear is a nationally-recognized legal expert on federal recognition, tribal land claims, and treaty rights issues. She is known both for her work as a litigator and for her advocacy on behalf of tribes before Congress and the federal agencies. Ms. Locklear was also the first Native American woman to argue in the Supreme Court.

Amy Konary, program director, IDC, Framingham MA
Amy Mizoras Konary is a program director with IDC, focusing on software pricing, licensing, and delivery research. As a young woman, Ms. Konary has received a number of honors and awards, including IDC Research Quality Awards in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004, as well as IDCs 2002 Analyst-of-the-Year. In 2005, Ms. Konary was honored with IDCs James Peacock award for research excellence, IDCs highest honor.

Erika Mangrum, president and founder of Iatria Day Spa, Raleigh NC
Erika Mangrum is president and founder of Iatria Day Spa. Founded in 1999, Iatria now has four locations in the Raleigh area. As a recognized expert in the industry, Ms. Mangrum is a sought after speaker and mentor. She was profiled in the July issue of Entrepreneur Magazine and has been interviewed locally, regionally, and nationally by such publications as the Triangle Business Journal, News & Observer, Fortune Magazine, Health Magazine, SpaFinder, American Spa, and Health.

Kathy Hart, treasurer, NC State University, Raleigh NC
Kathy Hart has served as treasurer for NC State University since September 1996. In this role, she provides leadership to the Foundations Accounting and Investments Department, University Bookstores, and the University Real Estate Department. She oversees the university's debt management program and serves as a financial representative to the Centennial Campus Task Force. Ms. Hart manages approximately $392 million in assets for the affiliated foundations and endowment fund.

Panel moderator

Beverly Murray, president and founder, R+M
With 17 years of marketing and creative direction experience - 13 of those as a business owner - Beverly Murray possesses an unquenchable thirst for branding challenges. As the fearless leader and founder of R+M, a branding agency, Ms. Murray focuses her passion for living by assisting lifestyle, healthcare and life science companies builds powerful brands that positively impact the way we live. Under her guidance, R+M has been recognized locally, regionally and nationally for business practices, strategic development and creative execution. In addition to her agency’s accolades, Ms. Murray is the recipient of the Triangle Business Journal’s Woman in Business and 40 Under 40 awards, and was recently named one of Business Leader magazine’s 2005 Women Extraordinaire.

Experiential Exercise Leader

Dr. Lynda Aiman-Smith, associate professor, business management, NC State College of Management
Dr. Aiman-Smith's current research interests include technology implementation issues, organizational culture in high-tech firms, and managing technical professionals. She will lead a self-learning opportunity for the conference attendees.

Master of Ceremonies

Suzanne Gordon, Vice President Information Technology, SAS Institute

Suzanne Gordon has served as chief information officer (IS) and vice president of the Information Systems Division since March 2002. Prior to being appointed vice president of IS, Ms. Gordon served as acting vice president within the Professional Services Division, where she directed the consulting, strategic support and partnering activities of nearly 300 employees. Prior to her time in Professional Services, Ms. Gordon headed the MIS department in IS for nearly 20 years. In recognition of excellence in the IS profession, Ms. Gordon was named to the Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leaders in 2003. Gordon maintains very active ties with North Carolina State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in math and computer science (1975) and a master’s degree in statistics (1980). Currently a member of the Board of Trustees at NC State, Ms. Gordon also has served on the boards advisors of the NC State Alumni Association and the College of Management.