Women+ in Technology of Charlotte National Leadership Team

Tiffany Benitez - National President & Founder

Tiffany grew up in the beautiful islands of Hawaii. She currently lives in Bentonville, AR with her husband and children. She has spent her career in technology, across several industries. She started her career in the finance industry, with 12 years at Bank of America. Tiffany then made a move to the retail industry and took a role in technology at Walmart’s Home Office. She led several transformation and continuous improvement efforts, to progress the Global Data organization to Agile & Product ways of working. She then made a career move to Lowe’s Companies, Inc. and led the strategy, portfolio, Governance, Awareness, and communications areas for cyber-security in technology. With her time at Lowe’s, she led the Women in Technology group and served with the Women Empowered Business Resource Group leadership team. These roles allowed her to use her passion to drive change and advocacy for women across the organization. She is currently serving as a Senior Director in IT Applications for Tyson Foods, Inc. Tiffany is an Author, Speaker and Advocate for women, who uses her strong connection with people to drive change and empowerment.

Women+ in Technology of Charlotte Chapter Leadership Team

Alexandra Williams - Chapter President & Sponsorship Lead

Alexandra Williams is a dedicated Senior Account Executive with Optomi, contributing over three years to one of the fastest-growing IT Staffing Firms. At Optomi, the focus is on identifying the best IT talent to drive technology projects forward.

Born and raised in Fairfax, VA, Alexandra graduated from George Mason University before embarking on a journey that led to Charlotte, NC, where she currently resides in Mint Hill. Beyond her professional role at Optomi, Alexandra invests time in volunteering with our WiT community partners like Apparo and Fleurix, reflecting her commitment to giving back.

With a passion for technology and computers that has been a constant in her life, Alexandra considers herself fortunate that the challenges of COVID pushed her to make a rewarding transition into the tech industry. In her spare time, you'll find Alexandra enjoying the company of her two cats, diving into a good book, exploring baking skills, and actively participating in the community.

Excited to bring her skills and passion for diversity to the WiT Charlotte Chapter, Alexandra looks forward to expanding her knowledge of the tech industry and making a meaningful impact.

Camryn Swedick - Chapter Operations Lead

Camryn Swedick is an Information Security Analyst at Lowe’s, handling graphic design and visual branding strategy for the information security department. Having relocated several times along the East Coast, Camryn has firmly settled in Charlotte, NC, aiming to advance her career within the tech industry.

Boasting a Strategic Communications degree from Liberty University and a certificate in Cybersecurity from UNC Charlotte, she has a passion for both technology and the arts and is consistently discovering creative ways to bridge the gap between the two areas.

To feed her passion for continuous education, she's also actively pursuing further certifications and higher education in both design and technology.

Beyond her professional and educational endeavors, Camryn is a big fan of the arts, particularly film. She finds peace in creative expression and has a deep passion for people and leadership. She is also often found experimenting with baking, listening to podcasts, and spending time with her two cats.

Liz Schneider - Treasurer

Liz is from Buffalo, NY where she spent most of her life before relocating to the Charlotte Metro area 4 years ago. The majority of her career was spent in banking where she led a variety of initiatives anchored in data and technology. In 2021 Liz pivoted her career out of financial services to work for Torqata, a data and analytics start-up. As VP of Product she led the product management team as they built SaaS and DaaS solutions for the automotive aftermarket. Liz has led several agile transformations and the transition from a project to product-centric operating model. Liz has a passion for her customers, is an advocate for her team and passionate about lifting up and growing women, especially those early in their careers.

Jamie Brown - Secretary

Jamie Brown is an Account Executive at Contender Solutions, contributing over three and a half years to the dynamic IT services industry. With a customer-centric attitude, she leverages Contender's Elite Partner status to help tech-forward organizations drive innovation, simplify the adoption of AI, and enhance operational efficiency through their ServiceNow investment. As a consultative seller, Jamie is extremely passionate about helping customers uncover solutions for their most complex business and technology challenges.

Born and raised in Barrington, IL, Jamie embarked on her journey south by attending the University of Kentucky. After four years as a Wildcat and two Bachelor's degrees later, she relocated to Charlotte, NC to kickstart her career. Outside of her professional work, Jamie enjoys quality time with her beloved dog, Booker, hot yoga, and exploring Charlotte's vibrant restaurant scene.

Driven by a passion for relationship building and community impact, she is thrilled to join the WiT CLT Chapter. She aims to empower others to embrace the technology industry, grow her local network, and uncover opportunities for further professional development.

DeLauren Everett - Events & Logistics

A lover of creating meaningful experiences and an avid wine lover, DeLauren Everett is a 15-year corporate events professional, and the founder and CEO of Blends & Bubbly, a full-service wine tasting and wine education company. DeLauren has designed and executed events in the retail and financial services industries over the years, including a national household consumer electronics brand, a fortune 50 home improvement big box retailer, and a fortune 500 independent brokerage firm. DeLauren has led thousands of internal and external corporate events, in-store retail activations, as well as tradeshows (both live and virtual), that move culture and business forward, while serving as a strategic resource and producer for line of business functions. In 2019, DeLauren studied for and received a level 2 certificate in the Wine & Spirits Education Trust program. At the same time, Blends and Bubbly, Inc, a once passion project turned small, minority owned business, was conceptualized, making wine more accessible, more fun, and less stuffy. DeLauren teaches wine explorers how to engage with wine through the 4s - see, swirl, sniff, sip – and how to write wine notes like a pro! As part of the experience, participants learn about the grape growing and winemaking processes, the benefits of selecting the proper glassware, and how to choose the right pairings.

With a passion for technology, innovation and inclusion, DeLauren bases the foundation of all she does on imagination, creativity and thought leadership, ensuring all goals, visions, perspectives and diversity are included. Born and raised in California, DeLauren now resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband and two children. Follow her on Insta at @blendsandbubbly.

Lesly Luque - Training & Certifications Lead

Lesly Luque is a beacon of inspiration, originating from Sinaloa, Mexico, and proudly representing the legacy of first-generation immigrants and college graduates. Arriving in Charlotte, NC at the tender age of 5 with her family, she embarked on a journey marked by resilience and determination. A distinguished alumna of an HBCU, Lesly played a pivotal role in establishing the inaugural Latina sorority chapter at her undergraduate institution.

With a career spanning seven years in the tech industry, Lesly has honed her skills across diverse roles, excelling as a Scrum Master, Quality Assurance Tester, and Business Analyst. Her journey hasn't been without its trials; navigating the complexities of growing up undocumented instilled in her a profound appreciation for hard work, resilience, and the richness of her cultural heritage.

Outside her professional endeavors, Lesly's impact extends far beyond as she holds a vital role on the Leadership Team for the Latinas in Tech Organization's North Carolina Chapter, which she helped co-found. Juggling various commitments, Lesly also revels in the joys of motherhood, recently embarked on her own entrepreneurial journey with the launch of a jewelry business, is a self-proclaimed foodie, loves iced coffee and country music. Lesly harbors a fervent desire to expand her horizons through travel, seeking new adventures and cultural experiences that enrich her understanding of the world and herself. She is committed to embracing the blessings in her life while embarking on a journey of self-discovery, recognizing that each moment holds the potential for growth and gratitude.

Hannah Dove - Training & Certifications Lead

Hannah Dove is a North Carolina native and Business Development Manager with Experis (a ManpowerGroup brand), adept in technical consultancy, implementation, integrated project teams, full lifecycle agency recruitment, and business development. Extremely knowledgeable of the talent landscape especially around business transformation, enterprise applications, cloud & infrastructure, digital workspace, and cyber security.

Hannah is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Chemistry and Spanish. She solidified her bilingualism after living in Madrid, Spain for two years. She is extremely passionate about learning languages, cooking, traveling, spending time outdoors, uplifting women, and putting good into the world.

Rhonda Smothers - Community Partnership & Outreach

Rhonda is a seasoned Senior Program Technology Manager with Lowe’s Technology Center, with a wealth of experience spanning over 20 years in project management and leadership roles. With certifications as an Agile Coach and Product Owner, she brings a dynamic blend of technical expertise and agile methodologies to her work.

In addition to her corporate responsibilities, Rhonda is deeply engaged in driving positive change and transformation in the lives of others. She serves on various boards where she leverages her skills and experience to bring about meaningful impact to empower individuals and communities.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Rhonda is a proud parent to a beautiful daughter, balancing her career achievements with the joys of family life.

Itzel Medina - Membership

Itzel Medina Garza is a Scrum Master for Lowe’s Home Improvement currently collaborating within the digital space to drive product teams toward maximizing value delivery. She has over 7 years of experience in technology and has contributed to technology teams within merchandising, loss prevention, international business and corporate services. Itzel is a first generation college graduate and holds a Bachelor's in Computer Science Information Systems with a minor in Bioinformatics from Johnson C. Smith University. She is always in pursuit of personal and professional growth and recently obtained a UX certificate from the University of Minnesota. Itzel was born in Mexico but has spent most of her life and currently resides in North Carolina. Outside of work, she finds joy in travel, attending concerts, playing board games, and spending quality time with family and friends. As a mother to two young girls, she wants to help foster a world where girls and women are empowered to thrive, break barriers and reshape the narrative in the tech industry.

Maxx Alexander - Girls+ in Tech

Maxine “Maxx” Alexander is an IT Vendor Management analyst living and working in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is an IT business professional, with over 8 years of diverse experience across several industries with a broad understanding of human experience. Maxx excels at cultivating strong partnerships, mitigating risks, and optimizing vendor relationships to propel businesses forward in the digital age. She has worked

alongside clients Microsoft, Dell, IBM, and Salesforce to analyze and evaluate vendor software and services for cost saving optimization. Maxx Alexander is a native of Philadelphia, PA and affectionately echoes the sentiment “South Philly raised me.” A first-generation college student, she graduated summa cum laude

from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a concentration in Public Relation, “Aggie Pride!” In addition to her professional career, Maxx and her husband and business partner, fellow Aggie, Lamar have held an

affinity for entertaining and hosting events. In 2019 the pair launched PourOnTap Mobile Bar Company, a full-service bartending and beverage service company specializing in both corporate and private events currently servicing Charlotte, North Carolina, and surrounding areas. Outside of the office, when she isn’t collaborating with technology vendors or curating drink menus for clients, Maxx enjoys spending time with her family; husband, two children and spunky grandson. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and involved in volunteering and organizing events with a focus on combating the epidemic of homelessness of battered women and children. Her interests include fitness, interior design and event planning and she lives by the mantra: “To hell with circumstance…create your OWN opportunities. “

Matt Burroughs - WIT CLT Allyship Lead

Matt Burroughs is Chief Information Security Officer for Novolex, responsible for overseeing and implementing the company’s information security strategy to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of its data and systems. He has over 20 years of cybersecurity experience.Matt joined Novolex in 2022 from CNA where he served in a variety of roles, all within technology. He was most recently responsible for the department’s day to day operations. P

rior to that, Matt spent more than 12 years at SecureWorks working with leading global customers from each industry vertical. As a Sr. Consultant, Matt played a pivotal role in guiding customers through diverse business, technology, and cybersecurity issues. He oversaw the designing, constructing and executive of global cybersecurity programs.

Matt earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Coastal Carolina University. In 2023, Matt was recognized by CDO magazine “40 under 40 Security Leaders” as one of the world’s most influential and successful cybersecurity leaders under the age of 40.

Rochelle Rhodes - WIT CLT Programs Lead

Rochelle Rhodes is a Cybersecurity Specialist focused on Risk Management at Skanska where she assesses technical risks and coordinates with the business for remediation efforts.

A Charlotte native, she attended Queens University of Charlotte as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and obtained a degree in English Literature and Secondary Education. In 2017, she transitioned to IT and has focused on customer service, incident response, policy creation, risk management, and security awareness training. She obtained her CRISC certification in 2023.In her free time, Rochelle is a voracious reader, spoils her two dogs, and spends quality time with her husband and friends.

Priscilla Baez - WIT CLT Marketing & Comms Lead

Priscilla Baez, a dynamic marketing professional and entrepreneur, was born and raised in New York City and spent her formative years in Central New Jersey, embodying both the vibrancy of city life and the spirited energy of a Jersey girl. In 2018, she moved to Charlotte, NC, where she has established a new sense of home and continues to grow her career and community. She holds a BA in Advertising and PR with a minor in Sociology from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA with a concentration in Strategy and Leadership from Wake Forest University.

Priscilla’s career is marked by her expertise in brand strategy, integrated media planning, and digital marketing. She has worked with prominent brands such as Showtime Networks, Krispy Kreme, Blu E-Cigs, JP Morgan Chase, DSW Shoe Warehouse, Black Entertainment Television, Vonage, and Essence Ventures. Her interest and passion for entrepreneurship, marketing consulting, and design began in 2015. She launched her first event-based business in 2018 but rebranded to MPB Design Co. in 2022 as she became clearer on the primary audience she wanted to serve. MPB Design Co. is a livable luxury interior design and event firm for moms and growing families.Beyond her professional achievements, Priscilla’s most cherished role is being a mother to her son, Parker Bradlee. Motherhood has inspired her active pursuit of joy in both her personal and professional life, with joy serving as her barometer for success. She firmly believes in the words of Michelle Obama: “Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.”

Priscilla loves to travel, entertain, and host intimate events. She is dedicated to supporting and connecting with like-minded women, moms, and business owners, and she is deeply grounded in her Christian faith. She is a proud volunteer of Women in Tech Charlotte and Elevation Church, where she actively contributes to empowering and uplifting her community. Her journey is a testament to her commitment to making a positive impact, driven by her passion for joy and meaningful connections

Women+ in Technology of Charlotte

Women+ in Technology of Charlotte National Leadership Team

Tiffany Benitez - National President & Founder