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PLAN4DEMAND
CEO, LISA M. KUSTRA, NAMED DIRECTOR FOR PITTSBURGH CHAPTER OF WITI (Women in Technology
International) PITTSBURGH, PA, December 5, 2002 — WITI (Women in Technology International), the global organization founded to advance women through technology, today named Lisa M. Kustra director of WITI’s new Pittsburgh chapter. “WITI is an organization that pioneers new business models to demonstrate that women ‘lead differently,’ and that building a successful company and making a positive impact on society are not mutually exclusive,” said Carolyn Grossman, WITI Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. “WITI is about supporting one another and celebrating one another’s successes,” she said, “We’re confident that Lisa’s proven leadership abilities will help WITI and women throughout the greater Pittsburgh area realize that vision.” As CEO and founder of Plan4Demand Solutions, a Pittsburgh-based consulting services firm specializing in supply chain management solutions for Fortune 500 and mid-market global organizations, Kustra brings 13 years of professional and executive leadership experience in the technology realm to her new volunteer role as director of WITI’s Pittsburgh chapter. Last year, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge named Ms. Kustra one of Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business. Earlier this year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognized her business, Plan4Demand Solutions, as a certified Woman Business Enterprise and a pre-qualified vendor of IT services “Providing resources, insight, and role models to help inspire women is one of the main things I hope to achieve through WITI,” said Kustra. “And I’m eager to recruit local business leaders who are willing to make a personal commitment to help galvanize the women’s community in Pittsburgh.” Kustra has invited various area business women to serve as advisory board members for the Pittsburgh chapter of WITI, which will serve the southwest PA tri-state region. She also plans to focus strongly on issues and programs relevant to young women—in local colleges and even high schools. It’s important to reach out to young women early as they’re formulating plans for their careers,” says Kustra. “Our goal is not only to help spark their interest and ambition in the field of technology but also to create a community that fosters retention of that talent in Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania—so we can help grow our business community over the long term. “Women seem to best retched a bit farther in their lives than men—managing their careers, their families, their personal lives. My goal is for this organization to challenge women’s viewpoints about what they can do and what they can expect from themselves,” she said. A formal kick-off event for the new Pittsburgh chapter of WITI will be held Wednesday, January 15 at the Renaissance Hotel in Pittsburgh from 5:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sponsors of the event, which is free and open to the public, include Plan4Demand Solutions and Draper Triangle Ventures. Learn more about Plan4Demand global supply chain planning specialists. About WITI (Women in Technology International): WITI is the first and only international organization dedicated solely to advancing women through technology. Founded in 1989, WITI has successfully provided women in technology with inspiration, education, conferences, on-line services, publications and worldwide resources. In the last few years, WITI’s constituency has expanded from women in technology to women who consider technology central to their businesses, careers and professions, with chapters and programs throughout the U.S., Australia, and Europe. Through its award-winning Web site, publications, events, and chapters, WITI reaches almost half a million professional women worldwide. For more information, check out www.witi.com.
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