Katie will talk about her year-long trip around the world with her family. After much planning and organizing, Katie and her family left home on Sept. 8, 2001. The events of 9/11 almost derailed the whole plan but they decided to persevere in spite of numerous pleas from family and friends to return to their senses and go home. A year of traveling against a backdrop of a nervous world was an unforgettable and life-changing experience for all of them. Come hear the story and see a few of her husband Bill’s amazing photographs.

In real life, Katie has spent the past 22 years in high tech marketing: 11 years in corporate world (Apple, Macromedia, Claris) and 11 years as an independent marketing strategy consultant. Prior to entering the high tech world, Katie was a licensed professional civil engineer specializing in earthquake risk analysis and earth dam safety. How she got from dirt to high tech is another story entirely.

Katie has played an active role in her community and church over the past decade. She started and lead a successful investment club (“Stocks and Broads”); they exited the market in a well-timed maneuver that left everyone miraculously in the black. She took on the role of den leader for her son’s Cub Scout group and had at least as much fun as the boys building rockets, playing with fire and learning to use duct tape to fix anything. She continues to support her son’s Boy Scout Troop as the Community Service Projects Coordinator. She has taught Sunday school and currently leads adult Bible study. For fun, she likes to read, hike, cook, ski, garden, scuba dive, and TRAVEL!

Katie received her B.S. in engineering from Cornell University and an M.S. in engineering from Stanford