KENT, Ohio - March 1, 2016 - PRLog -- Kathy McElligott, executive vice president, chief information officer (CIO) and chief technology officer of McKesson Corporation and alumna of , is the recipient of the 2016 Spirit of Women in Business Award.
“I am proud to be this year's recipient of the Spirit of Women in Business award,” said McElligott. “Pursuing a computer science degree at Kent State provided an excellent foundation to build my career. Having a STEM-related degree provides incredible flexibility and value in any career, especially today.”
McElligott earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in computer science from the College of Business Administration and a master’s degree in business management from Xavier University.
Prior to McKesson, McElligott served as CIO of Emerson, a St. Louis-based global manufacturing and technology company. In her 15 years at Emerson, McElligott held a variety of executive positions including vice president of information technology for Emerson Industrial Automation and vice president of information technology for Emerson Power Transmission. Previously, McElligott spent 22 years with General Electric, holding multiple information systems leadership roles, ultimately becoming CIO of supply chain for GE Aircraft Engines.
McElligott was recently appointed to the board of directors at ArcBest, a publicly traded $2.6B freight transportation and logistics company and also serves as board member for Connections to Success, an organization that encourages disadvantaged men and women to achieve economic self-reliance. While in St. Louis, McElligott was a member of the board of trustees for Fontbonne University, the industry advisory council of Washington University and member on the St. Louis CIO Board. McElligott is also a member of the CIO Strategy Exchange, a small and selective multi-sponsor program for chief information officers from the most forward-looking companies.
“This year’s Spirit of Women in Business Conference again brings together knowledgeable speakers, a highly accomplished award recipient, captivating session topics and multiple opportunities for professional development and networking,” said Deborah F. Spake, dean of the College of Business Administration. “Plus, we are very honored to announce Kathy McElligott as this year’s award recipient, who has excelled in her professional career and positively impacted many through her volunteer efforts.”
The Spirit of Women in Business Award honors a Kent State business alumna who excels in her profession, paving the way for women in business.
“In my career, I chose assignments that pushed me out of my comfort zone and added new skills versus worrying about the title or level of the position,” said McElligott. “That gave me a very solid foundation to build and advance my career.”
McElligott will be honored at the 2016 Spirit of Women in Business Conference on Wednesday, March 9, which will feature keynote speaker Deborah Kolb, Ph.D, renowned expert in negotiation, leadership and gender and co-director of The Negotiations in the Workplace Project at Harvard Law School. In addition to the keynote speech, the conference includes a networking lunch and three breakout sessions.
Session topics for this year’s conference include:
· Discussion with Leading Expert on Negotiation Dr. Deborah Kolb
· Career Imperfections: How to Brave the Corporate Ladder
· Lean In: Tactical Solutions for Success
· Leadership Success Strategies: Second-Generation Gender Bias
· Networking: Beyond Your Bubble
· How Women are Transforming the World: The Socially-Conscious Economy and Feminine Values
Two topics are offered during each session; attendees can choose the one that most interests them. Breakout session speakers include Lisa Waite, owner and president of Waite Communication & Professional Development, LLC.; Kim Riley, president at Hylant; Paula Fyda, president at Innovative Quality Solutions Company; Linda Hetson, vice president of professional services at Akron Children’s Hospital; and an expert leadership panel from Penske Truck Leasing.
For more information about the Sixth Annual Spirit of Women in Business Conference and to register, visit .
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’s College of Business Administration is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) and one of the largest colleges of business in Ohio. The College has more than 4,300 students representing 50 countries with over 106 full-time faculty from16 countries.
The college grants undergraduate through graduate degrees, and is one of only three public colleges in Ohio with a comprehensive Ph.D. program. The MBA program is offered with nine concentrations and five dual degree options. The Executive MBA program offer two tracks: one targeting corporate professionals and the other healthcare executives. The M.S. in Accounting and M.A. in Economics are specialized master’s degrees for those seeking advanced study in these disciplines. The college boasts nine undergraduate majors, 12 minors and a Professional Sales Certificate program.
The college is listed as a Best Business School by Princeton Review, ranked as a Best Business College by U.S. News and World Report, one of only 23 accounting programs worldwide to be endorsed by the IMA (Institute of Management Accountants), ranked Top-Tier for Executive Education in North America by CEO Magazine and ranked fourth by the SEF (Sales Education Foundation) in Ohio for Professional Sales Education.
The college boasts an onsite Career Services Center and International Programs Office dedicated to business students, and operates the Global Management Center, the Center for Information Systems and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation all propelling scholarly research, establishing innovative industry partnerships and providing outreach to Northeast Ohio and beyond.