5 honored at Women Tech Awards

SALT LAKE CITY — Carol Fineagan grew up in an alcoholic and emotionally abusive household in Baltimore which, if she had let it, could have sabotaged her entire future.

Instead, Fineagan drew strength from her participation in the Girl Scouts and from her mother's best friend, Joyce Britton, who provided encouragement, help and a positive role model.

Fineagan went on to earn several degrees, changed careers a number of times and now is senior vice president and CIO at EnergySolutions.

Fineagan on Thursday was one of five women recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to the technology world and the community at the Women Tech Awards luncheon sponsored by the Women Tech Council.

The event at the Grand America Hotel packed one of the ballrooms and Fineagan's award for Leadership Excellence drew hearty applause. She arrived in Utah four years ago to join EnergySolutions and, as part of her work, integrated all of the IT and communication processes in the company in only 10 months.

Other winners included:

 Padma Allen, president and CFO for Techno Dyne, who received the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. Allen helped Techno Dyne grow to 500 workers and produced year over year revenues of $80 million.

 Chiao-ih Hui, program manager at L-3 Communications, Rising Star Award. Hui has overseen the creation and manufacture of a small unmanned airplane that currently is used in Afghanistan and Iraq.

 Laura Hunter, chief content officer for the Utah Education Network, Education Excellence Award. Hunter supervises the state's online instructional services and helped create the PBS Digital Library.

 Carol Campbell, senior manager of research and development at ATK Aerospace Systems, Technology Innovator Award. Campbell manages 17 scientists and engineers and has gotten seven patents and produced 20 published works regarding solid propellants and ingredients.

The Women Tech Council is a group that advocates for women working in technology. The group, created in 2007, also is open to men involved in the business and technology worlds, and it aims to offer help, resources and mentors to women who either work in a technology based industry or who use or create different forms of technology in their businesses.

The awards event was hosted by MountainWest Capital Network and presented by EnergySolutions, Epic Ventures, Ernst & Young, Stoel Rives and USTAR.

In receiving her award, Fineagan singled out her son, Ryley Arnold, for special thanks — "He's been my inspiration for the past 16 years" — and her EnergySolutions co-workers.

"I did overcome a lot of stuff, but it didn't feel like overcoming anything," she said. "It felt like taking advantage of opportunities that came along the way, and I would encourage everyone to think that way."

e-mail: lindat@desnews.com