The Way We Are - Speaker Bios

Gail Heck-Sweeney
Director
Keysight Technologies, Worldwide Channels
Gail Heck-Sweeney is based in Santa Rosa, CA responsible for the design and management of the Keysight worldwide partner channel driving growth opportunities.
Prior to her current position she was General Manager for Keysight Technologies, Mobile Broadband Operation, Malaga, Spain. While based in Malaga she was responsible for the research and development, marketing and support for test and measurement systems and applications selling into the Wireless Communications industry.
From 2004-2013 Gail was the General Manager for Agilent China Communications Operation based in Beijing, China, responsible for the research and development, marketing and support for software and test and measurement applications selling into the Wireless, Aerospace/Defense and General Purpose electronic test markets.
Gail joined Hewlett-Packard in Palo Alto, California and transitioned to Agilent Technologies when Hewlett Packard split into separate companies. She has divided her career between Europe, the US and Asia working in marketing, manufacturing, services and R&D in Edinburgh, Scotland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, and in California and Washington.
Gail holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Gonzaga University and an MBA from the University of Santa Clara.
Director
Keysight Technologies, Worldwide Channels
Gail Heck-Sweeney is based in Santa Rosa, CA responsible for the design and management of the Keysight worldwide partner channel driving growth opportunities.
Prior to her current position she was General Manager for Keysight Technologies, Mobile Broadband Operation, Malaga, Spain. While based in Malaga she was responsible for the research and development, marketing and support for test and measurement systems and applications selling into the Wireless Communications industry.
From 2004-2013 Gail was the General Manager for Agilent China Communications Operation based in Beijing, China, responsible for the research and development, marketing and support for software and test and measurement applications selling into the Wireless, Aerospace/Defense and General Purpose electronic test markets.
Gail joined Hewlett-Packard in Palo Alto, California and transitioned to Agilent Technologies when Hewlett Packard split into separate companies. She has divided her career between Europe, the US and Asia working in marketing, manufacturing, services and R&D in Edinburgh, Scotland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, and in California and Washington.
Gail holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Gonzaga University and an MBA from the University of Santa Clara.

Kristin Darnell
MEng Graduate Student, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Kristin Darnell is a current Graduate Student obtaining a Master of Engineering in Advanced Safety Engineering and Management at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also holds a B.S. from the South Dakota School of Mines in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, as well as an A.A. and Pharmacy Technician certificate from Edmonds Community College. With different experiences through life and going back to school around age 25, she has a very non-traditional path to SWE and engineering.
Achievements:
Society of Women Engineers National Collegiate Future Leader FY17
Society of Women Engineers Collegiate Leadership Institute – WE16
SD Mines Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Chapter Treasurer FY19.
President FY18, FY17, FY16.
SD Mines Outstanding Student Organization Member for Society of Women Engineers 2019.
SD Mines, Mines Advantage Scholar 2017.
MEng Graduate Student, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Kristin Darnell is a current Graduate Student obtaining a Master of Engineering in Advanced Safety Engineering and Management at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also holds a B.S. from the South Dakota School of Mines in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, as well as an A.A. and Pharmacy Technician certificate from Edmonds Community College. With different experiences through life and going back to school around age 25, she has a very non-traditional path to SWE and engineering.
Achievements:
Society of Women Engineers National Collegiate Future Leader FY17
Society of Women Engineers Collegiate Leadership Institute – WE16
SD Mines Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Chapter Treasurer FY19.
President FY18, FY17, FY16.
SD Mines Outstanding Student Organization Member for Society of Women Engineers 2019.
SD Mines, Mines Advantage Scholar 2017.

Shruthi Thandri
Process Control Engineer
Packaging Corporation of America
Shruthi Thandri is a Process Control Engineer at Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) in Wallula, WA. At PCA, she and her team work to optimize and automate different processes of papermaking. She grew up in Portland, OR and went to the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, where she graduated with a degree in Bioresource Science and Engineering. At UW, she was a part of the student SWE chapter where she participated in many activities including encouraging young women to pursue STEM careers. She has really enjoyed being a part of Eastern Washington SWE over the last year and is enjoying being treasurer for this fiscal year. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking and knitting.
Process Control Engineer
Packaging Corporation of America
Shruthi Thandri is a Process Control Engineer at Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) in Wallula, WA. At PCA, she and her team work to optimize and automate different processes of papermaking. She grew up in Portland, OR and went to the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, where she graduated with a degree in Bioresource Science and Engineering. At UW, she was a part of the student SWE chapter where she participated in many activities including encouraging young women to pursue STEM careers. She has really enjoyed being a part of Eastern Washington SWE over the last year and is enjoying being treasurer for this fiscal year. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking and knitting.

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