!" STEM Degree & an MBA #" PhD in a STEM Field $" Career in IT
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE
KELVIN R. MASON $
BOEING Chief Information O f ficer
JOAN ROBINSON-BERRY !
BS - business administration: managem ent
information systems, University of G eorgia
Director, Strategic Work Placem ent for Integrated
Kelvin Mason has an exciting ca-
Defense Systems, Enterprise Small Business
Liaison O f ficer
reer. He leads an information services
BS - manufacturing engineering, California State
group of 250 that provides techno-
Polytechnic – Pomona logical support to employees who use
M S - engineering managem ent & business
administration, West Coast University and
cutting-edge technology to design,
University of California – Riverside
manufacture, sell, and service, argu-
Joan Robinson-Berry is an engineer
ably the most technically advanced
with a stellar career. She holds a patent in chemical processing
business jet aircraft — and, of course, he gets to ride in them.
and was the fi rst ever African American woman to sit on Boe-
Mason says the next big thing in IT will be how it responds to a
ing’s technology strategy council. But she says it was her MBA
projected shortage of expertise. His answer, which reminds him
that supplied the perspective to drive strategy and develop solu-
of the old pay-by-the-piece concept, is that individual sub-con-
tions. She advises wanna-be MBAs to gain technical core com-
tractors, who may well work for competitors at the same time,
petency before pursuing the degree. Her supplier diversity team
will fi ll the positions, not companies. His advice to students
makes more than $5 billion annually in small and diverse busi-
interested in a technical career is straightforward: Concentrate
ness placements, and she works to boost the ranks of minority
on math and science from grade school through college. Set
STEM specialists. She says leadership derives from developing
goals, plan your work, and work your plan. Reward yourself as
teams with a diversity of thought, skills, and cultures that can
you achieve your objectives, and then repeat the cycle. Mason’s
blend productivity and personal needs; and set and meet high
favorite vacation spot, movie, book, and leisure activity are,
expectations. When not working, Robinson-Berry travels to a
respectively, Las Vegas, Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion, The
vacation home in Ghana, where her family has helped refurbish
Bible, and cruising in his car. He already has his dream job, and
an urgent care center, and has assisted in the development of an
his greatest infl uence is Jesus. In 2008, he received the Black
engineering aerospace curriculum at Ghana’s technical univer-
Engineer of the Year Pioneer Award.
sity. There is also time for fun: her favorites include the novel,
The Secret Life of Bees, a Webcam, so she can see her kids while
LOCKHEED MARTIN
on travel, and
Google.com because “it connects me to every-
thing else I need to access.”
LINDA GOODEN $
Executive Vice President
Information Systems & Global Services
BOEING
(IS&GS)
JIM WIGFALL
BS - computer technology,
!
Youngstow n State University
BS - business administration,
Vice President, SSG Supplier Manage m ent
University of Maryland, University
Boeing Shared Services Group
College
BS - mathematics/computer, The Citadel
MB A - University of Tennessee
Under Linda Gooden’s lead-
When Jim Wigfall received recogni-
ership, Lockheed’s information
tion by the editors of US Black Engineer
systems & global services busi-
& Information Technology magazine as
ness unit, which employs about
being among the Top 100 Most Important
52,000 people worldwide, gener-
Blacks in Technology in 2006, USBE wrote that his accomplish-
ated $8.4 billion in equivalent
ments “validate the important contributions blacks make in the
sales. IS&GS provides its federal customers with information
high-tech and business world.” One of his proudest accomplish-
technology solutions, mission services, logistics services, energy
ments is leading his 330-member group to save Boeing more
and homeland security support; business process services, and
than $750 million through contracts negotiation, standards im-
peacekeeping and nation-building services. Ms. Gooden actively
plementation, and leveraging the spend of the entire company
supports professional, academic, and civic organizations, serv-
during 2007— the same year he obtained his MBA. “I’ve had
ing on numerous executive boards including the Armed Forces
quite a journey to my MBA,” he explains. “I started a few years
Communications and Electronics Association International, the
after graduating from college but I moved to work at Boeing. At
Information Technology Association of America, the Univer-
the time, there weren’t many options while you worked. Then
sity of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, the
family and work took priority.” Consequently Wigfall advises
Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, and the Execu-
would-be MBA’s to “obtain it early in your career.” Meeting
tive Leadership Council. Her awards include the 2002 Federal
one’s performance expectations is how he measures effectiveness
100 “Eagle” Award by Federal Computer Week, 2002 Women in
for his team, which has an operating budget of $60 million.
Technology Corporate Leadership award, and the 2006 Black
Wigfall sees the next big thing in IT as sustainability. His three
Engineer of the Year Award. She was featured as one of Black
initiatives? Demand management, leveraging spend data for the
Enterprise magazine’s “Women of Power in Business” in the
purpose of reducing costs and implement Lean Manufacturing.
same year.
22 USBE & Information Technology I WINTER 2008
http://www.blackengineer.com
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