?Judge Highlight - Audrey Hammonds?
Nikki Cabus ??
Building South Florida's Tech Hub by helping businesses, supporting startups, and connecting talent!
Palm Beach Tech is hosting another Hackathon ?? this year at the Office Depot headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida from October 4th - 6th. This year will be a 24 hour event with the theme "Smart Cities & Hurricane Relief." The City of Boca Raton and Florida Power & Light (FPL) are also presenting sponsors.
We have five esteemed judges this year from companies including Microsoft, Levatas, Modernizing Medicine, PGA of America, and Office Depot. We will be highlighting one judge each day to give you a little more insight into who will be on our panel.
JUDGE HIGHLIGHT: Audrey Hammonds
Audrey Hammonds is an Azure Specialist working with Data and Artificial Intelligence at Microsoft. She has been working in technology for almost three decades now with experience as a programmer, developer, production DBA, and architect for multiple organizations, including the United States Air Force where she got her start in tech.
Audrey enlisted in the Air Force in 1995 and after receiving positive test scores was asked if she would be interested in becoming a computer programmer. Not realizing that she would be doing anything out of the ordinary, she agreed. When she arrived at her first duty station she realized she was the only woman in a group of 63 others. "Youthful optimism and naivete worked in my favor," says Audrey.
Years later, Audrey recognizes that is was the support of mentors, the natural problem-solver within her, and the ability to make a good living doing something that she loves that has kept her in the IT field. With the need to continue to bring more women in to the field, she says that "what people don't realize is that technology is a great equalizer. Technology doesn't care if you are man or woman or graduated at MIT or as an Airman."
After moving to West Palm Beach in 2017 from Atlanta, Georgia, Audrey has been volunteering her time as an Executive Board Member of Palm Beach Tech for the past couple years. She is a big supporter of building the local tech ecosystem system and giving back to the community. She is also a blogger, presenter, advocate for women in tech, and most importantly, a mother.
Sign up for Palm Beach Tech Hackathon and use code TENOFF for $10 off!
*** All meals, including breakfast lunch and dinner, are included in the ticket price. ***