Apparo is proud to announce that Stephanie McKee, our Director of Technology Engagements, has been recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential Women by The Mecklenburg Times.
The 50 Most Influential Women awards gala was created by The Mecklenburg Times to spotlight and recognize the important role women play in the greater Charlotte region, in the economy, and in society. The honorees represent the most influential women in business, government, legal, education and nonprofit fields.
Mecklenburg Times freelance writer Kimberly Griffith Massey interviewed Stephanie:
Q: What is your most significant personal accomplishment?
A: “Being an entrepreneur is one of my greatest personal accomplishments. As a very determined, young girl attending high school in the 1980’s I became fascinated with technology. Tehcnology, back then, meant using the original Macintosh to learn BASIC programming. During this time, I set goals for my future. I knew I wanted to go to college for computer science, work for a company to gain experience, and then start a consulting firm.
Growing up with a mother who was an entrepreneur in a male-dominated field inspired me to do the same. I attended Appalachian State University while working 30+ hours per week to pay for my education – this was a huge accomplishment as well!
My career began in procurement for a large textile company. In a short time I had worked my way up to System’s Engineer. Upon moving to Charlotte, I worked in the role of managing a large network for a construction firm. Finall, the time came for me to take a leap of faith and start an IT Consulting Firm. It was risky, but I knew I had to take a chance and be vulnerable. After all, it was a goal I had set in high school. My first client was a property management company, and I gained more clients by word of mouth. I gained many experiences in this arena and was fortunate enough to step into another entrepreneurship role with a nonprofit.”
Q: What is your most significant professional accomplishment?
A: “Over 5 years ago, I took my career in a different direction by transitioning to the nonprofit sector. My passion for volunteering and helping others was a big driver in making the move. Moving from owning a consulting firm to Apparo came with excitement, nervousness, and challenges.
Q: What have you yet to accomplish that you would like to?I have the pleasure and honor of sharing my technology experience and knowledge gained over the past twenty-four years with Greater Charlotte’s nonprofit community. Through Apparo, I am the Roving CIO/Technical Expert for the nonprofits in our area and work with over 80 nonprofits annually. The impact I am making thorugh my work at Apparo is helping nonprofits become more efficient and secure and, most importantly, save more money – money that can go towards supporting their mission.”
A: “With my passion for cybersecurity, I plan to create a security awareness program to share with nonprofits and small businesses. I am working on obtaining a security certification (CISM), which will be a huge accomplishment for me.”
Congratulations, Stephanie! This recognition is so well deserved, and we are lucky to have you in the Apparo family!
