Past President 

Linda Hicks
pastpresident@womenandhitech.org

“At 211 degrees, water is hot, at 212 degrees it boils.  And with boiling water comes steam and with steam, you can power a train...Why do you enter into any activity with anything but a COMMITMENT to achieve your objective of that activity - not a desire to achieve your objective, but a commitment?”   Sam Parker, 212 the extra degree.

 Linda Hicks is currently the Vice President of Midwest Operations for ECC Horizon, a regional office of an environmental consulting company based in New Jersey.  Linda leads a team of environmental scientists, geologists and project managers conducting environmental investigations and remedial projects throughout the US.  Linda is a chemical engineer by training and has over 33 years of experience in the chemical industry gained through working at Vertellus Specialties Inc.  Although Linda spent a couple years of her tenure at Vertellus doing commercial work as the Director of the Specialty Chemicals business, the majority of her career was spent within technology and manufacturing.  She led global manufacturing and technology organizations including engineering, process safety, research and development, applications development, operations and global quality.  Linda built the first pyridine and picolines manufacturing plant in China and has traveled the world establishing technology teams, processes, and manufacturing assets.  Linda’s last role at Vertellus was Vice President of Global Technology and she was a member of the Vertellus executive leadership team.

Linda earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Grove City College (Grove City, Pa.).  Linda is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and served on the Executive Advisory Board of the Center for Chemical Process Safety for over 10 years.  Linda is active in the community and has a passion for advancing girl/women empowerment, financial independence and STEM careers.  She has served on the board of Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis, and held the position of Interim President and CEO, Board Chair (3-years) and Development Chair.  Girls Inc.’s mission – “Inspiring all girls to be Strong, Smart and Bold”, resonates strongly with everything Linda does.  She is a board member of TechPoint Foundation for Youth and has been member of Women and Hi-Tech for 5+ years. Linda was the co-recipient of the 2014 Money Magazine’s Money Hero for the state of Indiana, awarded the 2014 “Mentor Me” Leading Light Award by Indiana Women & Hi-Tech and named a 2015 Women of Influence by the Indianapolis Business Journal.  Linda is married and has two accomplished daughters.

Promoting STEM careers, particularly to women, is what prompted Linda to get involved with Women and Hi-Tech.  Women continue to be underserved in this area.  Starting at a young age they develop the impression that STEM is so heavily populated by men that it’s tough to get ahead, have fun and build friendships.  Linda believes Women in Hi-Tech works to dispel these paradigms and influence confidence building.  She finds it inspirational and motivating to be surrounded by a sea of highly accomplished Tech women who are focused on mentoring each other.