Philly Tech Week 2019

Michael Stauffer is a long-time software developer with experience in technical and artistic projects including medical imaging, neural systems modeling, and tools for music production and visualization. The Sculptor and Groove Catcher projects come from a long-burning interest in music visualization, fueled by Michael’s passions as a musician, dancer and all-around geek. He’s recently found Vizmoo to develop and commercialize the VR rhythm-and-groove game Groove Catcher, and the dynamic music sculpture system Sculptor. Michael works and creates in Philadelphia, PA.

Jumoke K. Dada, Principal and Founder, Signature RED and Tech Women Network

Jumoke Dada is best described as a techie and visionary whose sweet spot lies at the intersection on innovation, entrepreneurship, goodwill and girl power.

Dada holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Sciences and real estate certification from Temple University. She is also a certified Scrum Master. Her corporate technical experience includes work as an application developer, business and systems analyst, quality assurance tester, and technical project manager. As the principal of Signature RED, she offers tech consulting services to companies and creates tools and resources for women interested in careers in technology. In 2017, she created the Tech Women Network - an online, searchable platform and community for women with technical skills.

Over the years, she has hosted several educational events and workshops including Building iOS Mobile Apps, Rails Girls, Techies Who Brunch, and the HUE Tech Summit for women of color in tech. Dada is a public speaker with a growing passion to empower women and girls especially those with interests in STEM fields. In the summer, she gives back through her non-profit Signature Red Cares whose main program, Project ALOE, gives care packages and advice to college-bound girls. Dada has been recognized in several media outlets for her innovative ideas, leadership skills and community involvement. Additionally, she is a contributing writer for ForbesWomen where she covers diversity in tech.

To learn more about her work, visit dadaverse.org or follow @jumokedada on Twitter.

Sara Mohazzebi is the founder of Think Free Productions, a media and production company committed to promoting stories of diversity, equality, and thinking outside the box in a variety of formats including digital media content, documentary shorts and series, commercials, music videos, and scripted television and film projects. Known as a leading expert in social good, arts/subculture, and innovative entrepreneurial coverage, Sara has consulted for wide range of high-profile and award-winning nonprofit organizations, and advertising agencies including Saatchi and Saatchi’s Team One and Shine On Sierra Leone and is a speaker and moderator at popular media and tech conferences. At Think Free, she brings her expertise and experience as a former social good and culture journalist to her current directing and executive producing slate.

Prior to Think Free, Sara was the editor-in-residence for the launch of the digital division of Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine. During her residency, Sara created and directed the original limited docu series Turning Point with co-producer and director of photography Alexis Casson featuring Amanda DeCadenet of Girl Gaze, designer Melody Ehsani, and Style Seat CEO Melody McCloskey. She also created the written series The Storytellers where she interviewed a spectrum of female storytellers about their creative process such as author Elizabeth Gilbert, television writer and director Gail Lerner of ABC’s Blackish, feature film and television costume designer Mona Many, EVP of Marvel Studios Victoria Alonso, director and activist Abigail Disney, and novelist Emily Giffin. Additionally, she created the monthly original essay submission series where the public can submit their personal essays and be published on Hello Sunshine's digital platforms.

For the past decade, Sara has been an international journalist and producer and has travelled the world covering the endeavors of social good activists, cultural influencers, icons, and A-list entertainment talent. With a reputation for reporting from refugee camps to red carpets, her work has been published in numerous popular domestic and international media outlets including The Daily Beast, Esquire, Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, Emirates Woman, + PopSugar. Sara was also the syndicated columnist + host of the series Up To Real Good, a column dedicated to socially conscious brands with a global give back to women and children’s health and development for TakePart World (Participant Media’s news division). Sara has also written for and been commissioned by the United Nations World Food Programme and the Montblanc Signature For Good initiative in addition to being a global culture correspondent for Puma Social.

Sara has an MFA in Film Producing from the American Film Institute and is the recipient of the Amy Bloch Producer Fellowship for producing excellence. She also has a B.S. in Film + Multimedia Production from Drexel University.

Her favorite word is yes.

Gloria is a Ghanaian - American sound engineer, producer, mixer and writer with over 10 years experience in the studio, often operating under the moniker Redsoul. A Temple University alum, she began her career in NYC as an intern at Battery Studios and later as an assistant engineer at MSR Studios. At MSR Studios, she spent 6 years honing her skills under the tutelage of the industry’s most proven engineers, producers, and artists. Gloria is now a freelance engineer, finding her niche working closely with legendary hip-hop artist and producer Q-tip. Her recent credits include work on A Tribe Called Quest’s final album “We Got It From Here…Thank You For Your Service” and Solange’s breakthrough release, “A Seat At The Table”. She has also recorded or mixed Andre 3000, Anderson .Paak, Frank Ocean, Jack White, Kanye West, and Amber Mark among others. With a return to her songwriting and production roots, Gloria hopes to continue forging a road forward with a perspective and voice all her own.

Annalicia is a Manager of the Digital and Strategic Design practice with Navigate and has 5+ years of consulting and industry experience leading software implementations and design thinking projects to enable business initiatives and driving enterprise transformation. She is a conceptual thinker who helps clients identify and apply solutions to improve business efficiency and effectiveness through process improvement and strategic design thinking.

Along with her work at Navigate, she is an adjunct professor at Thomas Jefferson University, where she teaches Innovation Essentials. Through this class, undergraduates learn the Integrated Design Process, which trains them in design thinking, identifying opportunities for innovation, prototype development, and business modeling.

Annalicia has spoken at numerous events advocating strategic design and social impact, with upcoming engagements this May at TEDxPhiladelphia 2019. She has an M.B.A in Strategic Design at Thomas Jefferson University and has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Widener University.

Alexis is a forward thinker and autodidact. She is a writer, producer and director with over 9 years of experience in various aspects of television and digital production - including shooting and editing. Having worked with companies and brands such as HBO, VH1, CBS, The Food Network, Coach, Hello Sunshine, etc… Alexis specializes in creating premium content, both scripted and unscripted - including short and long form branded, lifestyle and docu-series'.

In 2012, Alexis created an award-winning documentary series called, "The Peculiar Kind." It has been shown around the world, including a special exhibition at the Tate Modern and over 50 colleges and universities, including Yale University, Brown University and the University of Sydney. Soon after it's premiere Alexis partnered with Afropunk and was also asked by Model, Activist and 2013 TED Talk Special Curator, Cameron Russell, to give a TED Talk about the need for multi-hyphenate diversity in film and television.

“The Peculiar Kind” is an excellent series-turned-documentary project that encourages widespread conversation concerning every inch of the fight for gender parity and LGBTQ equality within the framework of civil rights. With the permission of its producers, the “Peculiar Kind” documentary is available for screenings. - Indiewire

Currently, Alexis is freelancing, writing a YA dramedy for network television and continues to working with her talented colleague, creating innovative content.

Christine Mina is the Manager of Digital Media for the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL). Christine joined the Philadelphia Flyers in 2014. In her current role, Christine oversees all digital media platforms including the team’s mobile app, social media platforms, and the team website, PhiladelphiaFlyers.com. She is responsible for strategizing and executing all digital content and marketing initiatives as well as tracking and analyzing digital revenue generation.   Prior to joining the company, Christine held public relations and communications positions for the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL).   Christine received a Bachelor’s degree in communication and rhetoric from the University of Pittsburgh.