Change has been the buzz following last week’s mid-term elections. Though it’s still to be seen what real change will take place in the months ahead for our nation, this week Working Mother Media recognizes four women who are making a difference on-the-ground in our communities everyday.

Whether it’s providing support for public safety programs and our armed forces; increasing awareness of premature births; raising philanthropic funds for Hispanic and women engineering students in Puerto Rico; making high school girls’ prom dreams come true; or mentoring high school students to pursue careers in science, these women are true heroines making change happen now. 

Fifteen women in the technology industry who exemplify volunteer service will be recognized at the March of Dimes 10th Anniversary Heroines in Technology Gala this Friday, November 12th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Reston, Virginia.

Click here for a full list of finalists and event registration information.

This week’s heroines:

Teresa Carlson
Vice President
Microsoft Corporation
 
Teresa Carlson is the Vice President at Microsoft Corporation responsible for U.S. Federal Government.  She is a board member of the American Red Cross of the National Capital Region and co-chairs the organization’s annual Fire and Ice Ball, where the Red Cross salutes the nation’s armed forces.  Ms. Carlson is also a member of the Tiffany Circle, a Red Cross initiative led by local women leaders that ensures the organization is prepared for and can respond to emergencies and threats to public safety.
 
She also serves on boards and committees of the following organizations: Association for Federal Information Resources Management (AFFIRM), AFCEA Bethesda (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association), NPower, TiE DC, TechAmerica and The American Council for Technology (ACT) - Industry Advisory Council (IAC).
 
Ivette Falto-Heck
Engineering Director
Lockheed Martin
 
Ivette Falto-Heck is an Engineering Director at Lockheed Martin.  Ms. Falto-Heck developed an educational partnership between Lockheed Martin and the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus (UPRM) that provides summer and permanent employment positions and research opportunities to Hispanic and women engineering students in Puerto Rico.  For the past three years she has led efforts to secure $600,000 in funding for college undergraduate research and $300,000 in philanthropic funds for Hispanic students at UPRM.
 
As leader of the Lockheed Martin Hispanic Leadership Council Community Outreach program, Ms. Falto-Heck organized and participated in hundreds of school seminars, talks, workshops, science fairs and space days. She also served as guest speaker and helped organize the annual Hispanic STEM Initiative conferences in Texas and the Hispanic Engineer Awards Conference.
 
A retired Air Force colonel, Ms. Falto-Heck conducted several programs while in the service to encourage young women and minority students to stay in school and pursue careers in science.
 
Shana Folk
Senior Manager of Recruitment
Harris IT Services
 
Shana Folk is Senior Manager of Recruitment at Harris IT Services.  Ms. Folk led the Junior Women’s Club of Loudoun’s March for Babies team, which raised more than $15,000 for the March of Dimes.  She also raises awareness of premature birth by sharing her personal story in hopes that her tragic loss can be prevented by others.
 
As 2009 co-chair of Prom Wishes, she encouraged local businesses to donate dresses, shoes, makeup, salon treatments and restaurant gift cards so 80 girls could participate in their high school proms.
 
Linda Gooden
Executive Vice President of Information Systems and Global Solutions
Lockheed Martin
 
Linda Gooden is Executive Vice President of Information Systems and Global Solutions at Lockheed Martin.  In 2002 Ms. Gooden established the Lockheed Martin Math and Science Academy, which allows high school students to receive mentoring and encouragement—along with financial assistance—to pursue a four-year college degree in computer science or engineering.
 
She also spearheaded the development of key affinity groups at Lockheed Martin such as the African-American Leadership Forum and the Women’s Network.   Employees in her division logged more than 326,000 hours of volunteer support in 2009.

–Katie Tedrow is a marketing and corporate communications professional experienced in the professional services, technology and regulatory industries. She is an active member of the Legal Marketing Association Capital Chapter and involved in her community. Katie is Mid-Atlantic Marketing Manager at Womble Carlyle, an innovative business law firm. Follow her on Twitter: @KTedrow.