Board of Directors
Techie Kids' board is AMAZING!
Our Board of Directors is made up of fascinating and fantastic individuals. Each member is tech-savvy and brings their own experience in the technology and/or media field to the organization. They share a strong, balanced blend of skills that guide the overall Techie Kids' philosophy and direction - and are of the common mindset that exposing children to career choices in technology and media encourages creativity, stimulate their minds and empowers them to have brighter future.
Freida Oliver
Freida currently works as a business analyst in the health insurance industry and has approximately five years of experience in this field. As a graduate of the University of Michigan, with a degree in communications, she dabbled a little bit in journalism and then decided to enhance her technical skills by going to a computer training school where she received a professional certificate in network management and engineering. She currently works on the business side of Information Technology, as a liaison between the technical and non-technical staff to provide and simplify crucial information that is used in making major business decisions.
Additionally, Freida is also married with two children, two dogs; and currently resides in Homestead, Florida.
Giselli Machado
Giselli, a native of Brazil, has made beautiful South Florida her home. She currently works as the lead web developer for a small Internet marketing agency in Fort Lauderdale, FL. A dedicated and creative person at heart, Giselli has created many websites and online marketing promotions for various businesses and organizations. Her eye for detail and color is what made her early career as a graphic artist successful and empowered her to pursue a career in web design and code. Giselli has designed logos, online e-cards, brochures, flyers, posters, banners and more.
Additionally, Giselli has a real zest for life and is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Nicole Gates
Nicole is the Promotions Director of Lincoln Financial Media's Miami powerhouse, WLYF-101.5 LITE FM. A graduate of Columbus State University, she’s earned industry respect as an ethical, hardworking and effective broadcast media specialist, with the unique ability to successfully market to the masses. Nicole has dipped her professionally manicured toe into the river of TV hosting, broadcast, print journalism, and motivational speaking, focusing on the ever assuming power of the young professional female. She is affiliated with many organizations including The National Association of Black Female Music Executives, The Radio Advertising Bureau, and the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network.
Alexandra Palau
Alexandra is a native of Puerto Rico and received her Bachelor's Degree in Management Information Systems from Louisiana State University. She currently works as eMarketing Manager in the travel industry and has more than ten years of experience in the travel and entertainment field. After graduating from LSU, she moved back to Miami and worked as an HTML developer at Univision Interactive Media, the #1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. Hispanics. She was responsible for all revenue-generating mini-sites as well as contests within the portal. Currently, she is responsible for all email marketing efforts at Carnival Cruise Lines.
Alexandra loves to dance and have fun in everything she does. She resides in Miami, Florida.
Rhumel Anderson
Rhumel, native of Rochester, NY, attended Florida A & M University where she received her Bachelor's in Accounting. Upon graduation, Rhumel's career took an unexpected turn when she went into computer programming. She worked in the Financial Services industry for ten years, where as a senior systems analyst, she upgraded and maintained financial programs. Married with three girls, she left programming to raise her young family.
Currently, Rhumel owns a Mobile Mortgage Signing Service in Durham, NC.
Ruth Gadson-Smith
Ruth currently works as a secondary educator (7-12) in Okinawa, Japan. She has 13 years experience in education as a Language Arts teacher and Gifted Education Coordinator. She dabbled a bit in journalism (Heart & Soul Magazine, BET, U.S. News & World Report, Florida-Times Union) before moving into education. She earned her BA degree in journalism with a minor in education from Howard University and is currently completing her MA degree in educational technology with Michigan State University. She is a lover of youth, technology, leadership, and all things education.
Ruth is married to her soul-mate, John A. Smith, and has two children ages 7 and 1 and a stepson age 23.
Ana-Maria Figueredo
Ana-Maria has a BA in English and MS in Technology Education. She was featured in both Who's Who among America's Teachers and the Who's Who among America's Women in Technology. From 1995-2006 she was a Technology Consultant, as well as the National Speaker and President of Gecko Technologies. And, from 1988-1995 she was an International Baccalaureate Language Arts Teacher including theater, creative writing, British and World Literature. She is also a recipient of a National Endowment of the Humanities grant and the former Managing Director of eWomenNetwork's Miami Chapter.
An educator for over 20 years, both in and out of the classroom, Ana-Maria lives happily in South Beach and writes about it on her website southbeachannie.com.
E-mail: info@techiekids.org
