2022 Candidate Bios
Madi Schulte
Running for Vice President
About the Candidate
Madi Schulte is currently a Security Analyst at JE Dunn Construction Company. As Vice President
of Women in Security, she hopes to encourage and facilitate efforts aimed at increasing
accessibility in Kansas City’s technology and security organizations. With stewardship as a
driving factor, her involvement with a variety of local groups is primarily focused on assisting
those that face barriers to entry and ensuring opportunities for continued growth are not
missed.
Madi has helped organize and lead a local chapter of Girls Who Code and participated in panels
focused on encouraging young women in STEM, including the SWE’s Introduce a Girl to
Engineering Day & NCWIT’s Aspirations in Computing Awards. She currently sits on collegiate
advisory boards at both the University of Kansas and Donnelly College.
Advocating for technology & cybersecurity education, Madi served as president for KU's
Information Security club and has been a panelist for the DOE’s CyberForce Competition. Her
continued volunteer efforts includes involvement with BSidesKC as track emcee and social
media coordinator, as well as assisting with social media for SecKC.
Why are you running for this position?
I am running for this position to help ensure WiS-KC’s target audience are best able to
participate and benefit from the meetings and events that are coordinated by those who
donate their time and dedicate their efforts to the success of this organization.
Allison McKenna
Running for Treasurer
About the Candidate
Allison McKenna is a Business Development Executive for Ascend Technologies. Allison has worked in Cybersecurity for the past seven years in roles ranging from operations, consulting, and leadership to coaching, human resources and more. Allison has a passion for serving and enjoys nothing more than stepping into a problem that feels
confusing and overwhelming and sorting out the pieces and building a solution to alleviate other’s frustrations. As a single mother of five children for over a decade, Allison knows the challenges women face in the workplace and at home and seeks to be a giver of positivity and aide wherever possible to other working women.
Why are you running for this position?
She is excited for the opportunity to assist the women of WIS-KC in the role of treasurer as it fulfills her desire to serve her community and appreciates the need for budgets and growth, discipline and care over the resources, others entrust to such fantastic organizations like WIS-KC.
Lakorria Bates
Running for Secretary
About the Candidate
My name is Lakorria Bates and I currently work at Oracle as a Security Engineer. I am also a mentor to new associates. I graduated from Austin Peay State University with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a Mathematics Minor. In college, I was heavily involved in multiple organizations such as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Kappa Psi Business fraternity, etc. I was the Vice President of my sorority and held managerial positions with previous jobs; therefore, I have experience with leadership.
Why are you running for this position?
Running as Secretary will allow me to get more involved with the organization and create more responsibilities for myself. This position will benefit my organization skills. I am ready to obtain as much knowledge as I can to educate others on the importance of security inside and outside the organization. I am a huge believer in women empowerment. I believe it is important that we all stick together and support one another.
April Boyd-Noronha
Running for Communications
About the Candidate
April Boyd-Noronha, also known as The STEM Broker, is currently the Global Diversity & Inclusion Advisor and Board Member of the XR Safety Initiative (XRSI), the first global non-profit with the mission of helping build safe and inclusive immersive realities, such as the metaverse. April has over 20 years of experience in academia and advanced technologies as an author, global keynote speaker, thought leader, and advisor on emerging trends and the future of work on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of historically marginalized populations. She also is the new Global
Security Awareness Manager for Cardinal Health. April continues to blaze a trail in equitable practices as the first Black elected school board member of the Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) which is the 3rd largest school district in the state of Kansas. She is the parent of three children who all are pursuing a STEM career track in cybersecurity, engineering, and drone piloting.
Why are you running for this position?
I am running for the position of Communications because I am passionate and motivated to help position WiS-KC in the forefront of topics such as information security that impacts women, girls, and the community at-large. I am keenly aware that the role of Communications will also entail engaging our fiercest allies, committed community partners, as well as new/current supporters in the global
landscape of cybersecurity awareness. Equally, if not more important, is our role in advocating to closing the gaps in workforce development and gender parity.
I practically live on LinkedIn (solely out of necessity) so I’m aware of its power, impact, and connectivity for an organization such as WiS-KC. Additionally, I have carefully curated an established following on the most common social media platforms. I am a proud techie; a nerd who geeks out on cybersecurity, emerging trends, and innovative ways to keep the community aware of their role in fighting cyber threats. It would be an honor to serve WiS-KC and the general community in the capacity of Communications.
