PDXWIT Celebrates 2020 Award Winners
Since 2017, PDXWIT's community-driven Annual Awards program has recognized eight individuals in Portland's tech industry. This program was created because we noticed that those who identify as women, non-binary, and underrepresented are required to work extremely hard to remain in this industry. Their efforts often go unrecognized. We decided it was critical for us to celebrate the efforts of everyone in this community and to recognize individuals who have changed our lives through their speaking or glass ceiling-breaking initiatives.
Historically, two awards have been given each year: Best Speaker and Best Contributor, but this year PDXWIT awarded three individuals: Two Best Contributors and one Best Speaker. Award winners are based on community nominations collected throughout the year, with a panel of PDXWIT volunteers deciding on Best Contributor and narrowing down the Best Speaker category to three finalists.
These individuals are being recognized for their efforts to improve the industry for all of us. In addition to the recognition and physical awards, PDXWIT donates money in each of the winners’ names to a non-profit of their choice.
The award for Best Contributor: Agent of Access went to Ingrid Dos Santos, who is directly supporting community access to technology through her work at Free Geek. In a year where being connected through technology has been more crucial than ever, she has made sure that people can receive the tech they need for school and work. Dos Santos sharply focuses on those who experience the most marginalization in our community and uses an intersectional lens in all of her work. As part of this award, a donation of $500 was made to NAYA in Ingrid Dos Santos' name.
Ingrid Dos Santos
Best Contributor: Cultivator of Community went to Crystal Sincoff. Sincoff has been co-facilitating the Diversity Discussion series for PDXWIT and worked to start up the new Inclusion Boost group. She has helped lead the PDXWIT annual PRIDE event two years in a row. In her day job at Zapproved, she has ensured employees feel connected, engaged and supported, bringing in guest speakers from all over the country for Zapproved’s DEI Lunch and Learn series. She continues to conduct training programs including Inclusive Language and Allyshift training all centered around race, equity and inclusion. As part of this award, a donation of $500 was made in Crystal Sincoff's name to Adelante Mujeres.
Crystal Sincoff
Best Speaker was narrowed down to three phenomenal finalists: Daelynn Moyer, Donna Hammond, and Jackie Wirz. Each finalist gave compelling three minute talks live during the Annual Celebration & Awards Ceremony on December 15th, 2020. After all three talks, the audience voted live. It was almost too close to call, but ultimately Jackie Wirz won the award for her talk "Mental Health Matters: Reflecting on the past to see the future clearly." Wirz selected NAYA to receive her $1000 donation and requested the donation be made in her name along with the other two finalists.
