Women Execs Challenge Status Quo in MEMS and Sensor Engineering at Sensors Expo & Conference 2016

MEDFORD, OR--(Marketwired - Jun 2, 2016) - Rogue Valley Microdevices Founder and CEO Jessica Gomez will join other senior women executives in MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) and sensors at the first Women in Sensor Engineering (WISE) Breakfast at 2016 Sensors Expo & Conference (#Sensors16). As they explore greater professional opportunities for women in the MEMS and sensors industry, speakers will also challenge the reasons why women represent under 12% of electrical and mechanical engineers, according to a National Science Foundation Report.¹

Spanning research, design, development and marketing, WISE speakers will reflect upon their reasons for becoming a part of the MEMS and sensors industry. They will also share insights on what women bring to the table in engineering-driven professions.

Gomez described the impetus for founding Rogue Valley Microdevices, "My career began at a CMOS-compatible MEMS foundry while I was still in school. I was fascinated by the technology and had a desire to understand microelectronics fabrication. I was hooked before I even knew it. I founded Rogue Valley Microdevices because I fell in love with MEMS technology -- and of course I wanted more control and better job security than a typical tech startup might offer."

"The multidisciplinary approaches of engineering projects in MEMS and sensors, and the never-ending challenges, use an excellent combination of many of a woman's strengths: decision-making skills, multi-tasking, organization, passionate decisions, determination and social responsibility," said Susana Cardoso de Freitas, PhD, senior researcher, INESC Microsystems & Nanotechnologies.

Dr. Freitas added that as a physicist, she pursued engineering because she wanted to validate the results through real examples.

Petrina Zaraszczak, director, Industrial Vertical Market, Sensor Solutions, TE Connectivity, emphasized the importance of having an engineering background in areas as technical as MEMS and sensors. "MEMS and sensors provide opportunities for women to flex our capabilities, in both traditional engineering functions and in business and customer-facing roles. Having an engineering background allows you to understand the language spoken, regardless of the role you play."

Other WISE speakers include Margit Harting, PhD, director, PST Sensors, and Mary Ann Maher, CEO and founder, SoftMEMS.

For More Information on WISE Breakfast
The WISE Breakfast at Sensors Expo & Conference, organized by Roger Grace, president of Roger Grace Associates, will take place Thursday, June 23, 2016, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in Meeting Room 212AB at McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA.

Sensors Expo attendees may pre-register via: http://www.sensorsexpo.com/women-sensor-engineering-breakfast-submission-form

See Rogue Valley Microdevices: Booth 324
To meet with Rogue Valley Microdevices during Sensors Expo exhibition hours, please visit booth 324, June 22-23 or contact us via email: sales@roguevalleymicro.com

About Sensors Expo & Conference
Sensors Expo & Conference is widely known as one of the world's largest and most important gatherings of engineers and scientists involved in the development and deployment of sensor systems. For more information, visit www.sensorsexpo.com. Sensors Expo & Conference is produced and managed by Questex LLC, a global, diversified business-to-business integrated media and information provider, headquartered in Newton, MA. For more information, visit www.questex.com.

About Rogue Valley Microdevices
Rogue Valley Microdevices is a full-service precision MEMS foundry that combines state-of-the-art process modules with the engineering expertise to go seamlessly from custom design to manufacturing. Specializing in MEMS and biomedical device manufacturing, Rogue Valley offers a flexible equipment set and smaller batch sizes, playing a critical role in the commercial MEMS manufacturing ecosystem.

Rogue Valley also maintains the broadest and most comprehensive set of wafer services commercially available -- with over 50 unique dielectric and conductive thin films and all services performed in its own class 100 cleanroom. For more information, please visit: www.roguevalleymicrodevices.com.

Rogue Valley Microdevices and the Rogue Valley Microdevices logo are registered trademarks of Rogue Valley Microdevices, Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

¹ National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT), 2010.