Auburn University Samuel Ginn College of Engineering to host 100 Women Strong Conference April 10

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Auburn University's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering will host the second annual 100 Women Strong Leadership and Development Conference Friday, April 10, in the Lowe Grand Foyer of the Shelby Center for Engineering Technology.

With a number of successful alumnae, from CEOs of companies to executives in industry to entrepreneurs and innovations, the college's 100 Women Strong program is made up of these alumnae, as well as other friends of the college who are committed to providing resources and programming to attract, support and retain female students in Auburn engineering.

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch and a welcome from keynote speaker Melissa Herkt, a 1977 graduate in civil engineering.

Herkt was the first female Alabama Power co-op student from Auburn, and was also the first female engineer posted overseas for Exxon. During her tenure there, she led more than $700 million in project expansions in Europe. Now retired, Herkt also served as president of Process Systems and Solutions, a division of Emerson Process Management, where she oversaw more than 4,000 employees for a company that produced more than $900 million in annual revenue.

Herkt was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall in 2008, and was recently awarded the Auburn Alumni Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Following the keynote speaker, female leaders in the engineering field from corporations such as Alabama Power, Southwire, Visa, Chevron, Rockwell Automation and more will lead breakout sessions from noon-3 p.m. on topics including networking, business etiquette, making the right impression and more.

The 100 Women Strong program recruits prospective female engineers through E-Day, the college's annual open house, and through summer camps and networking with high school and junior college counselors and teachers.

Once at Auburn, 100 Women Strong strives to retain female engineers through mentoring programs with female professionals in the engineering field. The program also rewards the top female engineering students through scholarship funding.

For more information about the 100 Women Strong program, visit www.eng.auburn.edu/giving/areas/100-women-strong.

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