Susan Wheeler

Founder of Pathfinder Consulting Solutions, a strategic marketing consulting company.

Susan Wheeler believes that many girls need additional encouragement to consider a technology-related career. She finds that encouragement and inspiration can often come from unexpected sources. The creation of SAGE (Sacramento Advocates for Girls Empowerment) is driven by like-minded women who are motivated to share their enjoyment in working with technology. Through SAGE, Susan hopes to open up new possibilities for girls and young women.

Anita Hooper

Owner of Hooper Marketing, a consulting company. Instructor of Marketing and E-business at the University of Phoenix.

Anita believes that women, and especially girls, receive an overwhelming amount of mixed-messages from society. Many of these messages encourage women to focus on the external, rather than challenging them to look deeper, and consider how they can reach their full-potential. In fact, it can be especially challenging for women to excel in the areas of math, science, and technology since these fields have typically been male-dominated. By working as part of the SAGE team, Anita's goal is to help put together programs and connections for women (and girls) that will provide the information and support they need in order to pursue their vocational goals.

Kim Jacobson

Director of Swim and Tennis Country Club in Meadow Vista, CA, managing the members-only website. Ten years experience in Sales and Marketing, last of which was in the telecommunications/media industry.

As our society and corporate world becomes more advanced in the realms of technology and science, Kim has become increasingly aware of the need for women to be able to contribute to these fields that have such a vast impact on our world. Kim also has a strong desire to see women pursue careers than can grant them financial freedom and opportunities where they can truly make a difference. Young girls need to be presented with all of the options that are available to them for their future; they need to hear from women who have succeeded in the fields of technology and math. SAGE provides this sort of encouragement and the role models that could make a difference in young girls' lives. For this reason, Kim has chosen to commit her time and energy to SAGE.

Effie Kolbeins

Graduate Program Coordinator for UC Davis' Statistics and Biostatistics Graduate Program

Effie is newbie to the field of IT - she recently made a career change from Sales and Marketing to Web Development. She has been studying the challenge of empowering young women to become competent and confident in the field of computers for over six years. Effie finds that our society does not provide the encouragement and opportunities needed for young girls to become proficient in this very important field. Convinced that a concerted effort from a grassroots effort will be needed she is delighted
to be part of SAGE.

Judy Sava Coppola

Owner of Sava Design, a web design/development company.

Judy feels very strongly about the whole concept of being a mentor. Society and the media tend to dumb-down the goals and expectations of girls and so young girls especially need that little extra push of encouragement. Her interest in SAGE is to create and participate in a forum to reach out and capture young minds and encourage them in choosing exciting and attainable careers. "It's rewarding to think that, due in part to my efforts, I could possibly change a life."

Marie Ramos

Software developer and systems analyst.

Marie has 15 years experience in the IT profession as a software developer and systems analyst, and understands the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated profession. She brings her expertise in software development to help make the SAGE program a success.