July 17, 2025
in President's message

Dear Members,

Our June events were all about networking and achieving a work/life balance. At Bloom & Bond in Sioux Falls, members had the chance to create beautiful bouquets while connecting with one another. In St. Louis, the Summer Kick-Off at Rosalita’s Cantina was a hit, where the margaritas were flowing as freely as the conversations. Who knew that queso and cocktails could spark inspiration?

For me, this year’s Summer Kick-Off was a reminder of just how challenging work-life balance can be—especially during the summer. Disrupted schedules, vacations, and pool parties make it even harder to stay on track. Take my upcoming birthday, for example. My best friend is visiting, and we’ve been trying to coordinate plans. But all I could think about was cleaning the house, stocking the fridge, and figuring out where to put a kid when their room’s taken over. And then it hit me (kind of like my chip hitting the queso): why not book a hotel room and have our own slumber party? Sometimes, it only takes a few moments with WICT Midwest friends to remind me that I’ve earned some R&R—and now I’m looking forward to some fun summer shenanigans.

I hope you, too, have plenty of opportunities to connect with family and friends this summer—but I also encourage you to make time for yourself. Whether it’s a slumber party or simply a quiet moment, it’s important to prioritize your own well-being.

Looking ahead to fall, we’ve got two major events lined up: the Spirit of Midwest Awards (9/24) and Tech It Out (9/25). I need your help in identifying members who have made significant contributions to our industry—whether through advocacy, technology, volunteerism, or leadership. If you know someone who deserves recognition, please consider nominating them for one of the Spirit of Midwest Awards. Categories include: Advocate of the Year, Woman in Technology, Woman to Watch, Rising Leader, and Spirit of Midwest Award.

Submit a nomination:
https://wictmw.org/programs/signature/spirit-of-the-midwest/

As always, if you have any questions or need more information, feel free to reach out.

Can’t wait to hear about your summer adventures!

Cheers,

Kate Moore
President, The WICT Network: Midwest

WICTMidwest.President@gmail.com

April 21, 2025
in President's message

Dear Members,

Spring is finally here, and I couldn’t be more excited! With warmer temperatures and longer days ahead, it’s the perfect time to soak up some sunshine and recharge. Before we know it, we’ll be talking about how hot it’s getting, but for now, let’s enjoy the spring energy! I hope you’re feeling energized and ready to engage in more in-person events with The WICT Network: Midwest!

In February, we finalized our strategic plan for the year, focusing on membership, outreach, and engagement. Our initiatives are already underway, including our eighth year of offering the Premier Management Development Series (PMDS), as well as a variety of other exciting programs and networking opportunities.

Be sure to mark your calendars for these exciting upcoming events:

  • April – Spring Fling Paint & Sip in St. Louis
  • June – Summer Kick-Off Networking Event
  • July – Career Development Event
  • August – Professional Headshots in St. Louis (multiple dates/locations)
    • If you haven’t updated your LinkedIn profile picture or badge photo in a while, this is the perfect opportunity to refresh it!

Keep an eye on your inbox every Wednesday for more details and registration details.

Last fall, Oprah Winfrey hosted a special on AI, which rekindled my interest in how these technologies are shaping the telecommunications industry.  If you’re new to AI and curious about its impact, I highly recommend watching “AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special.”  Inspired by this, I reach out to my colleague, Brandon Fick, Ph.D., Senior Data Scientist at Charter Communications, to share his expertise.  At our March event, Brandon presented “Data Science Simplified: Understanding ML & AI” offering valuable insight and live demonstrations, while addressing thought-provoking questions from our members.

Get Rewarded for Referrals!

As a current member of The WICT Network, we invite you to help us grow our Midwest chapter by referring your colleagues to join. Our chapter provides opportunities to connect with others who share similar passions, while developing new skills, building upon your social circle, and expanding your professional network.  For each new member you refer, you’ll be entered into our quarterly drawing for a chance to win an Amazon gift card!

JOIN/RENEW

Here’s how you can participate:

  1. Invite a colleague to join The WICT Network: Midwest.
  2. Have them list your name in the referral field on the membership form.
  3. You’ll be entered into the drawing!

As we continue to focus on growth, collaboration, and empowerment throughout 2025, I want to thank you for your ongoing support and participation in our events and programming. Your feedback is always welcome, as it helps us shape a stronger chapter. 

Wishing you a sun-filled spring!

Warm regards,
Kate Moore
President, The WICT Network: Midwest

WICTMidwest.President@gmail.com

January 17, 2025
in President's message

Dear Members,

Happy New Year! As The WICT Network: Midwest’s newly elected President, I am excited to embark on a transformative year for our chapter. Together, we will build on our strong foundation and continue to support and uplift women in the technology and communications industries.

A little about me—I joined The WICT Network in 2017 when I began working at Charter Communications. I’ve had the privilege of attending and participating many events and programs sponsored by The WICT Network: Midwest, including the inaugural Premier Management Development Series. In 2023, I joined the Midwest board as the Director of Board Operations and was honored to receive the “Women in Technology” award at the 2024 Spirit of Midwest Awards.

As we look ahead to 2025, my goals for our chapter focus on three key areas: membership, outreach, and engagement.

  • Membership: We’ll be working to ensure that our current members renew their membership for the year while attracting new talent—both women and supportive male leaders—in the industry.
  • Outreach: We plan to strengthen partnerships with other nonprofits and communities in our region. Additionally, The WICT Network: Midwest will continue to serve as an advocate for visibility, representation, and resources for women in the workplace.
  • Engagement: We aim to expand the impact of our mentorship program by encouraging past mentees and PMDS graduates to become mentors in 2025.

Throughout the year, we will host a combination of in-person and virtual events providing our members with valuable knowledge, networking opportunities, and the tools to succeed in their careers. Stay connected and up-to-date with all our upcoming events through email and social media—be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already.

Here’s a sneak peek of some exciting events we have lined up in the early months of 2025:

  • Arise Firebird Screening & Fireside Chat
  • Launch of our 2025 Mentorship Program
  • Data Science Webinar

If you haven’t already renewed your membership for 2025 (memberships run January – December), please do so at your earliest convenience:

JOIN OR RENEW

Thank you for your continued support of The WICT Network: Midwest. If you have any questions or feedback, I’m always here to connect—feel free to reach out to me at WICTMidwest.President@gmail.com.

Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, collaboration, and empowerment!

Warmly,
Kate Moore
President, The WICT Network: Midwest

May 10, 2024
in President's message

As I reflect on our recent milestones—the Tech It Out and Spirit of the Midwest events—I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for our vibrant community. These events marked a significant milestone for our chapter. For the first time, these events were held in two different locations, allowing us to reach a broader audience and strengthen our network. While the events were unique due to location, I could feel the energy and excitement from both sites, and I was beaming with pride seeing the collaboration between our board members and volunteers. It was truly all hands-on deck for both events and we shined.

In the evening, I had the honor of serving as the Master of Ceremonies North for the Spirit of the Midwest awards in St Paul, MN. At this event I witnessed the enthusiasm and joy on the faces of our incredible nominees and could feel the same excitement and pride coming from my counterpart in St Louis. I was excited for two reasons: 1) These remarkable women and men inspire us all, and celebrating their achievements was a true honor. 2) We did it. We pulled off two events.  When looking across the room the evening of, and back at pictures from both events, I can still remember how that night felt and I am so humbled that I got to be a part of it.

In reflecting back on my experience, the day of the event, I can really boil it down to a few things, and they ring true not just for events like Tech It Out and Spirit of the Midwest, but to The WICT Network in general.

  1. Our chapter is more than a network; it’s a catalyst for growth. Whether you’ve been in the industry for your entire career or are just starting your journey, our events and programming offer a wealth of knowledge, skill-building opportunities, and connection.
  2. The WICT Network allows us to transcend company lines and amplify our impact.  It’s about forging connections that span organizations, industries, and geographies. These relationships have become a lifeline for me during challenges as well as a source of constant inspiration. 
  3. The friendships formed within this community are second to none. They withstand industry shifts and personal transitions. There have been so many people who have come from one company and transitioned to another and the thing that has held true is that they have all wanted to stay engaged with the people they have met through this incredible network of people.

The day of the event I spoke to people I hadn’t seen in years. We caught up on their career changes, industry perspectives and just truly enjoyed each other’s company. I am so thankful that The WICT Network has continued to give me this gift year after year, and I cannot wait to see what our incredible group puts together in 2025.

– Amber Schwiesow, President, The WICT Network: Midwest

Tech it Out Gallery

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The WICT Network: Midwest Tech it Out Allison Hallums
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Spirit of the Midwest Gallery

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Spirit of the Midwest Awards: Deb Malick and Anna Knobloch
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February 27, 2023
in President's message

Amber Schwiesow, The WICT Network: Midwest President, welcomes you to an exciting new year with our chapter. Her goals for 2023 are to have an impact and create connections in our chapter. No matter where you’re located in our region there is something for you and a way you can feel connected and impact can be created in your career and in your life from being a member of The WICT Network: Midwest.