This hour (short) panel discussion is the first in a series of discussions about Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. As the undergird to neo-technologies like crypto currency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and smart contracts, blockchain is a technology that is currently being adopted to operational processes in government, retail, banking, and law. How important is it that we understand this new technology? If so, how do we move forward to create opportunities to understand?

Join our panelists Karla Ballard, Founder of Ying_Co, Kathy Lajoie Malik  Program Managing Consultant, Susanne Tedrick, Author of “Women of Color in Tech”, and featured Librarian James N. Green, the Library Company of Philadelphia. Our discussion will focus on the past, present, and future value of technology and innovation in the Commonwealth. Topics will range from Pennsylvania’s Fiat (currency) to the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion of Blockchain technology.

Karla Ballard Williams is Founder and CEO of YING, a peer to peer skill sharing and global time sharing platform (IOS /Android App) engaging consumers and brands in a complimentary currency that supports community and individual benefits. YING leverages the growth of the sharing economy's trends and millennials interest in accessing alternative ways to transact services aimed toward building deeper community connections. The platform has a b2b enterprise engagement for NGO's and Corporations as well creating a plug in play sharing ecosystem for any affinity group.

James N. Green is Librarian of the Library Company of Philadelphia, where he has worked since 1983. He holds degrees from Oberlin (A.B.), Yale (M. Phil.), and Columbia (M.L.S). His three long essays on printing and book publishing in America from 1680 to 1840 appear in the first two volumes of the collaborative History of the Book in America, published by the American Antiquarian Society (2000-2010) under the general editorship of David D. Hall. He is also co-author, with Peter Stallybrass, of Benjamin Franklin, Writer and Printer (Oak Knoll Press and the British Library, 2006). He serves on the board of Rare Book School at the University of Virginia and teaches courses there in the summer.

Kathy Lajoie Malik is a technology program management executive who delivers "must do" critical programs involving significant business transformation, global teams, a wide range of technologies and client engagement. In addition to consulting and advisory services in financial services, Kathy’s roles included VP Program Management for BNY Mellon where she led the global technology team on the $100M Tri-Party Repo Reform Program and Director, Program Management at NYSE Euronext where she led the Hybrid Market Program that transformed the NYSE from a manual to mostly electronic trading floor.  Kathy’s career began in the aerospace industry where she led a consulting organization and Advanced Database Technology Management. She received a MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University and BS in Aerospace Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. 

Neferteri Strickland is a military officer, cybertechnology strategist, and podcast host who serves as a STEM Education Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) supporting education initiatives with an emphasis on post PreK-12 career readiness. As a contractor for the government, Neferteri supports initiatives for the Navy’s hull, mechanical, and electrical systems. At the start of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic Neferteri founded Teachers &, a Benefit LLC,  to support education stakeholders navigate the future of education.

Susanne Tedrick is an experienced cloud computing technical specialist and author of the award-winning WOMEN OF COLOR IN TECH. Susanne is the winner of CompTIA’s 2020 Diversity Technology Leader Spotlight Award, for her advocacy for increased diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech industry.