Women in Tech
2024

Julie Elberfeld, CEO of Women Who Code, brings a unique blend of corporate leadership, non-profit advocacy, and tech innovation. With over 10 years of experience as a former Fortune 100 Chief Information Officer and over 30 years in tech leadership, Julie has led transformative initiatives in both corporate and non-profit sectors. Julie's tenure in technology within the financial services sector included leading major initiatives that accelerated business growth for her partners. Her unique journey from coder to CEO gives her firsthand experience in the technology workforce, reinforcing her commitment to creating equitable career pathways and inclusive practices in tech.

She founded Belong Strategies, LLC, to advise on aligning diversity and inclusion with business objectives. Her accolades include being named a Washingtonian Tech Titan and a technical.ly Culture Builder of the Year. Beyond her technology career, Julie has served as an advisor and interim CTO to the nonprofit Opportunity@Work. Currently, she is an advisor to start-up companies and her alma mater, Miami University. Julie continues to shape a more inclusive and innovative tech industry through her leadership, advocacy, and expertise.

Holliday Sims is in her senior year studying Computer Science(CS) at the University at Buffalo. She is passionate about using AI for social good, equity-oriented computing education, broadening the participation of Black women in CS, and is an advocate for reducing inequities in CS. Previously, she has worked with Dr. Kenneth Joseph in the Computing For Social Good Lab (CS4SG) to analyze and improve the child welfare system using AI. Her commitment to using AI for social good is what led Gov. Kathy Hochul to invite Sims to her annual State of the State address in Albany, where the governor championed the creation of a $400 million state-of-the-art AI computing center called Empire AI for UB.  These days, she has been working with Dr. Christopher Proctor in the Computational Literacies Lab on designing a culturally-responsive, critically-engaging CS Teacher Preparation Curriculum. Sims will graduate with her degree in the spring and plans to continue her education in UB's Engineering Education doctoral program with Dr. Adrienne Decker.

Prior to her current role, Marjorie Velázquez served on the New York City Council representing District 13 in the Northeast Bronx from 2022 to 2023. During her tenure, she chaired the Consumer and Worker Protection Committee. In this role, she championed several key initiatives, including a landmark ruling mandating a minimum wage for gig economy workers, securing funding for public transit and safety improvements, and passing bills to strengthen tenant rights.  Leveraging her experience and connections, Velázquez now serves as Vice President of Policy for Tech:NYC, where she works to bridge the gap between City Hall, Albany, and New York's growing tech sector.

Alexis Vogt, PhD is a tenured professor of optics and the endowed chair of the Optical Systems Technology program at Monroe Community College (MCC), the world’s only college awarding associate degrees in precision optics. Since joining MCC in September 2015, Dr. Vogt has brought in $11M and graduated the largest class of optics technicians in the program’s 60-year history. Vogt received her B.S. as well as her Ph.D. in Optics from the University of Rochester Institute of Optics. Prior to joining MCC, Dr. Vogt was the Applications & Business Development Manager at Melles Griot and previous to that, designed contact lenses and intraocular lenses for Bausch + Lomb. In addition to her industry experience, Dr. Vogt holds three patents and has authored numerous papers, presentations, and publications in the field, including the definitions of “light” and “polarization” for The World Book Encyclopedia. Dr. Vogt is the recipient of numerous international awards including the 2023 SPIE María J. Yzuel Educator Award for outstanding contributions to optics education. Dr. Vogt serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Precision Optics Manufacturers Association, the Rochester Museum & Science Center, New York Photonics, and the Brighton Boys Lacrosse Club.

Dottie Gallagher is President & CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, the area’s regional
chamber of commerce and privately funded economic development organization.  Partnership
members employ more than a quarter of a million people in the Buffalo Niagara region.
Prior to joining the Partnership in 2013, Dottie was president & CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, the
region’s tourism promotion bureau.  Before this, she spent nearly 15 years with The Buffalo News
and served as a member of their executive management team.  
Dottie currently serves on the following Boards:

• AAA of Western and Central New York
• Buffalo Urban Development Corp.
• Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
• Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA)
• Great Lakes Metro Chamber Coalition (GLMCC)
• Visit Buffalo Niagara/Buffalo Niagara Convention Center

She also serves on the WNY Regional Economic Development Council (REDC), the Racial Equity
Roundtable, and the University at Buffalo School of Management Dean’s Advisory Council.
Dottie received her undergraduate degree from Towson University, and her MBA from the University
at Buffalo, an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree from Niagara University and a
credential in Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management from the Harvard Business School.

Honora Spillane is the Vice President of Economic Development at CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO), based in Syracuse, New York. CenterState CEO is an independent and forward-thinking economic development strategist, business leadership organization and chamber of commerce; dedicated to the success of its members and the prosperity of the region. In this role she manages economic development planning and targeted industry outreach efforts, strategic real estate initiatives, and supports CenterState CEO’s members’ interactions with local and state agencies.

Spillane previously served as senior director of Economic and Business Development at CenterState CEO providing economic development assistance to existing companies and those looking to relocate or expand in Central New York. Before joining CenterState CEO she served as the deputy commissioner for the City of Syracuse Department of Neighborhood and Business Development, Executive Director of the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency and the President of the Syracuse Economic Development Corporation. She has also served as economic development specialist with Onondaga County. In those roles she managed municipal economic development agencies, revolving loans funds, real estate development projects, and worked with businesses in a variety of industries to help them achieve their goals for growth and success.

Spillane currently serves as a member of the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council, the New York State Economic Development Council Board of Directors, the CNY Arts Board of Directors, the City of Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals and as the Secretary of the Eastwood Neighborhood Association. She graduated Cum Laude from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in communications. She also holds a J.D and an M.P.A from Syracuse University. She is a licensed attorney in New York State.

Stephen Tucker is the inaugural President & CEO of Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC), the signature workforce strategy under Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion initiative. In this role, Mr. Tucker is responsible for the management, oversight, and day to day operations of the new 90,000 square foot state of the art facility focused on training and preparing Western New Yorkers for careers in advanced manufacturing and clean energy.

His educational achievements include an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Wilberforce University. Mr. Tucker is a Murano Fellow as a graduate of Aspen Institutes’ Sector Skills Academy and a 2018 graduate of Leadership Buffalo.

Mr. Tucker was appointed to the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council in 2018 and received the Arthur O. Eve Award for Economic Opportunity presented by the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators in 2020. Mr. Tucker serves on the Boards of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Buffalo Urban League, Leadership Buffalo, Independent Health Foundation and Insyte Consulting.

An advocate for the Buffalo-Niagara region, Sarah leads TechBuffalo on its mission to promote homegrown tech talent and elevate Buffalo-Niagara’s profile as a top destination for tech. Sarah joined TechBuffalo as an executive on loan from M&T Bank, a top 15 full-service US-based commercial bank with a long history of community-focused banking.

During her time at M&T, she built and ran the Chief of Staff Office for M&T Tech. Sarah drove efforts around the launch of a new 350,000-square-foot M&T Tech Hub inside one of Buffalo’s long-dormant downtown buildings. She also channeled her passion for the community into building a first-of-its-kind Tech Academy for M&T, which enabled tech training opportunities for technologists and community members.

Before joining M&T, Sarah worked as an attorney. She also led marketing and public relations for the Tonawanda Castle, a nationally registered historic armory turned events center restored by her family.