Maria-Cristina Spiak, a quality manager for The Boeing Company, was presented with a Special Recognition award by Joan Robinson-Berry, vice president of Boeing South Carolina, at the 2013 Women of Color Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Conference.

Spiak was recognized for a commitment to her community by mentoring students at the Des Moines, Washington-based Aviation High School. Spiak also helps support a better quality of life for Hispanics. She is a member of the National Community of Latinas. She is also an expert team builder with effective interpersonal skills.

Maria-Cristina was born in a little house with no plumbing or electricity in the countryside of Panama. Her grandparents could not read or write and her parents only had a sixth-grade education. Eventually, one grandfather became a successful farmer and her father rose to hold important legislative roles in the community.

Maria-Cristina has a doctorate in business administration and a master's degree in quality systems engineering from the National Graduate School in Falmouth, MA. She earned a bachelor's degree in computer systems engineering from the Universidad Tecnologica de Panama. For her undergraduate graduation project, Maria-Cristina developed a system to efficiently receive, track and address citizens request for assistance to the Office of the First Lady of Panama. For her master's graduation project, Maria-Cristina led a Lean Six Sigma team that increased the efficiency at a local processing plant, which also reduced waste and saved $1.7 million for the company. For her doctorate, Maria-Cristina developed quality culture maturity model.

In 1999, at age 26, Maria-Cristina moved to the United States and became an American citizen a few years later. Building on her Panama work experience as a computer data analyst, Maria-Cristina worked for a company in Texas before joining Boeing in 2004 as a data architect. Maria-Cristina now has more than 20 years experience developing and managing computing and technical systems, and in software quality assurance, training, consulting and managing computer and technical systems and process improvement. She is continuously learning and developing her potential to provide innovative solutions and creative strategies to meet business challenges in an era of globalization. Maria-Cristina leads four quality teams that support the 737 airplane production system in Renton WA When she moved to the United States, Cristina soon learned firsthand what diversity means.

Tyrone D. Taborn, CEO of Career Communications Group, the company that produces Women of Color magazine and its annual Women of Color STEM Conference, calls the awards long-deserved recognition for talented women.

"These women are outstanding achievers in very competitive fields where women do not always get a fair shot at leadership positions," Taborn said.

"Women make up more than half of the population of this country and are receiving more than half of the college degrees, yet too many women in today’s workforce are trapped in low-paying and low-grade-level jobs," Taborn added. "Given the growing diversity of the current workforce, employers must commit not only to leveling the playing field but also to addressing those inequalities that limit women from achieving their full career potential."