The 27th annual Women of Color in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Conference will celebrate the contributions of more than 100 award winners.

Among them are the four Managerial Leadership Award winners below. The award recognizes individuals whose accomplishments in leading and managing make them stand out and whose career choices serve as an example to women working to move beyond what is considered traditional roles for women.

Dr. Jennifer Mills has served nearly 17 years as a federal civilian in the Government Accountability Office, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy as a computer scientist, electronics engineer, and computer engineer. Her assignment requires managing 80-plus direct reports, both civilian and military personnel, refocusing the U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command (USAISEC) mission, and maneuvering the Army’s Digital Transformation away from cumbersome legacy industrial-aged IT systems. Mills has worked closely with industry leaders, such as Amazon, Microsoft, Dell, and VMWare, as well as other government agencies to create transformational solutions that could be adapted to reduce the overall cost and schedule, accelerating much-needed true modernization. Mills’ systems engineering effort aligns with the Army’s network modernization, including cybersecurity initiatives, while enabling the delivery of information to decision-makers to meet warfighter needs. Mills has proposed transitions to new technologies to create an environment that is agile and adaptable. She proposed new technology insertion solutions as an option to increase capability and capacity to conduct business in a new and enhanced working environment, such as artificial intelligence (AI)- based software-defined networks, virtual desktop infrastructure, and cloud-based hybrid datacenter modernization.

Jilma Jiménez has held multiple senior leadership and corporate positions throughout her 30-plus-year engineering career. Four weeks after Jiménez joined Jacobs, she was tasked with transitioning her 400-plus-member team to remote working due to COVID-19. Her engagement and expertise steadied the $120 million operation at a time of deep uncertainty. Weeks later George Floyd was murdered. Jiménez guided multiple groups helping colleagues process their pain. She championed establishing an inclusion and diversity program for a vastly diverse geographic division spanning eight states, five time zones, and myriad social and political persuasions. Within seven months of hire, Jiménez ascended to lead a $235 million, 800-staff team. Her team increased revenues and profits while maintaining the lowest staff attrition in the region. She’s led large multidisciplinary teams in the design of more than $1 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Washington State alone. Now VP market strategist for People and Places Solutions, Jiménez assesses organizational performance to build sustainable competitive advantage and supports senior executive decision-making. Jiménez is an adjunct professor at Seattle University’s Graduate Engineering Program and mentors several early career professionals.

Hue Robinson leads a cross-functional team at Ford to develop near- and long-term plans to mitigate shortages. She’s currently tasked with easing the global microchip shortage. Robinson directly contributes to Ford’s financial earnings and leads teams implementing CN95 filters in vehicle HVAC systems. She’s delivered innovative features in the F-150 console’s work surface and was issued a patent for its hidden item/card holder. Robinson executed F-150’s milestones on time, improving its cost with design efficiencies and negotiations, and implementing 100 percent production-tooled parts for the Development Completion Vehicle build. Ford chose Robinson to represent them at the inForum Genuine Leadership forum. She participated in and co-led Ford’s Women of Climate Control group and received numerous awards and certificates for her innovative designs. Robinson has also mentored Ford College Graduates, guiding them in business and decision-making skills. She was a judge in the Certified Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association, and she volunteers for Hope Closet, a nonprofit that outfits young women for their special high school events.

Chrissy Thom joined Jacobs’ predecessor company CH2M as a junior field scientist in 2005 with a background in ecology and biology. She’s now an executive leader overseeing technology and innovation investments across Jacobs’ People & Places Solutions Line of Business, where systems thinking and integrated analysis are still foundational to her approach. Thom’s areas of expertise include leading across global markets, managing technology transfer and industry/academic partnerships, and overseeing research and development investments. Thom leads a cross-functional global team, known as Growth, Strategy & Solutions, which positions Jacobs to unlock true global intelligence. She oversees $35 million in annual investments, shaping business growth across Jacobs’ multibillion-dollar portfolio. Appointed one of the top 40 leaders at Jacobs, she is dedicated to developing and advocating for employees from all backgrounds, especially those from marginalized populations. Jacobs’ Harambee Black employee network named Thom Inclusive Leader of the Year (2021), a tremendous honor for her. She continues to strive for allyship to support and advocate for Harambee’s members and mission both within Jacobs and outside the company.