Suffolk County Event Addresses Issues of Gender Equity in Energy Industry
Stony Brook University supports this national effort with educational opportunities
On March 19, the Suffolk County Office of Economic Development and Suffolk County Executive's Office of Women's Services hosted a "C3E" educational and networking event that addressed implicit bias and gender equity for women working in the field of energy. " C3E" is the U.S. Clean Energy, Education and Empowerment Initiative that aims to close the gender gap and increasing the participation, leadership, and success of women working in clean energy.
The event included an address by Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone and a presentation by the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. It culminated in a panel discussion that brought together executives from Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, National Grid, IPS Inc, and LIPA, as well as Florence Hudson, former Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at IBM.
Stony Brook's Patricia Malone, Associate Vice President for Professional Education and Executive Director of the Center for Corporate Education (CCE) , chaired the panel presentation.
"It was my pleasure to facilitate a panel of such highly respected leaders in energy to explore how organizations are changing their culture to support and enhance the careers of women. We are grateful to the Suffolk County Executive's Office for hosting such an impactful event," she said.
As a member of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council and the Suffolk County's Workforce Development Board, Ms. Malone has long been a proponent for advancing the careers of women in STEM fields by developing programs to address the unique challenges that women face that can hamper their success in male-dominated industries. Under her leadership, CCE oversees the Advanced Energy Training Institute and offers an annual Women in STEM Leadership Program for current and emerging female leaders.
In his welcoming speech to the 100-plus attendees, Mr. Bellone said, "If we as Long Islanders want to make a difference, protect the planet and our environment while simultaneously growing our economy, we need to support pay equity and break down barriers impeding women from succeeding and advancing in this industry."
FOR MORE INFORMATIon
- Women in STEM Leadership Program : A three-day intensive program that aims to provide the tools and connections needed to help women realize their career potential and affect positive change in their field. Sponsored by the Center for Corporate Education.
- Advanced Energy Training Institute: The training division of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center, which aims to create a platform for honest credential brokering in the elusive "green" landscape.
- Suffolk County Office of Economic Development - Energy Division : Resources and programs aimed at reducing energy use and energy costs to the County, while achieving lower carbon emissions from County operations.
