The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) last night presented eight professionals and two students with its 2012 Women of Innovation awards.

The awards are designed to recognize women who are innovators in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
              
A story in today’s print edition of the Business Record highlights what businesses say is a growing divide between the number of technology-related jobs and the number of qualified workers going into those fields. One of the problems identified by leaders in the sector is the lack of women pursuing technology careers.

The Women of Innovation event, which took place last night at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, exists to highlight the achievements of women who are successful in technology fields, said Leann Jacobsen, president of TAI. It has drawn corporate sponsorships by DuPont Pioneer, CDS Global Inc., Principal Financial Group Inc. and Rockwell Collins Inc.

The awards ceremony followed a seminar for girls in grades eight through 12 through Microsoft Corp.’s DigiGirlz program, where girls were able to interact with executive women from the technology industry.

Women of Innovation winners included:

• Sondra Ashmore, executive portfolio manager at IBM Corp., won in the category of business innovation and leadership. Ashmore was also a 2012 Business Record Forty Under 40 honoree.
• Kate Washut, founding partner of software development company Far Reach Inc., won in the category of entrepreneurial innovation and leadership.
• Jacqueline Comito, program manager of Iowa Learning Farms at Iowa State University, won in the category of government agency/nonprofit innovation and leadership.

To see the full list, click here .