DETROIT, February 16, 2009 – The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation today announced that Marcy Klevorn has been appointed president. Klevorn, global director of IT infrastructure for Ford Motor Co., replaces Rosemary Bayer, who founded this philanthropic arm of MCWT and served as its president since 2003. Bayer will remain on the MCWT advisory board and serve as a major advisor for the Foundation.
“I am energized by this organization and by Rosemary, who is truly a visionary committed to bridging the IT gender gap and making an impact on youth and women in Michigan,” said Klevorn. “I look forward to contributing to the MCWT Foundation’s many educational initiatives that help attract girls and women to technology fields, and working with the outstanding team of women that make up MCWT.”
Klevorn brings more than 26 years of IT expertise to the Foundation. At Ford, she oversees technical infrastructure, data centers, web-hosting requirements, engineering, technical research and infrastructure services for businesses across the company and around the globe. She has held a series of IT-related positions within Ford IT and Ford Credit throughout her career. During her tenure, Klevorn launched a comprehensive securitization system to diversify company funding, helped launch eight new Ford Credit Service Centers, led program management efforts for a major purchasing initiative, and spearheaded a business process change in data and information management across product creation. As global infrastructure director at Ford, Klevorn has played a global role in data center consolidation and systems management. She has launched numerous social media tools supporting internal business aimed at increasing productivity. Klevorn earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business and resides in Farmington Hills, Mich. with her husband and son.
“Through Rosemary’s dedication, this organization has grown rapidly, exposing the exciting challenges and rewards an IT career can bring,” said Kathleen Norton-Schock, vice president of marketing for MCWT and its Foundation. “She has single-handedly galvanized a 100-percent volunteer staff committed to promoting women in technology and encouraging diversity in the field. We’re thrilled that Marcy will continue the momentum and help the organization impact hundreds of girls and women in a positive and practical fashion.”
Bayer, global client executive for Sun Microsystems, founded MCWT in 2002 with four other IT leaders and has been instrumental in its strategic direction and growth ever since. She has held roles such as the technical events committee chair, founder and leader of the corporate outreach program, and vice president of strategy. In 2003, she launched the MCWT Foundation. Under Bayer’s leadership, the Foundation grew from providing $2,000 in scholarships in 2004 to more than $67,000 in scholarships and grants in 2008. She spearheaded the launch of an in-demand girls technology summer camp and started a high-school robotics program that now includes 13 teams across metro Detroit. Bayer earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and math from Central Michigan University and an MBA from Lawrence Technological University. She resides in Oxford, Mich.
About The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation
The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to correcting the dramatically growing trend of gender disparity in the information technology field. The Foundation accomplishes this by attacking the problem at several of its roots—the education and orientation of young women throughout school, and the fostering of women in various stages of their professional lives—with a variety of educational and inspirational programs and support. www.mcwtf.org.
About The Michigan Council of Women in Technology
The Michigan Council of Women in Technology provides leadership, mentoring, community outreach, professional development and networking to professional women within the Michigan technology community. The organization’s vision is to serve as the premier association for professional women within Michigan’s technology community. www.mcwt.org.
