President
Kelly Mehta
Kelly is a passionate leader and a long-time STEM advocate. Having early exposure to STEM programs and career options, Kelly pursued engineering in college, graduating from Michigan State University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. She spent her first 11-years working in various engineering roles before transitioning to marketing. Kelly is currently the Product Line Manager for Eaton’s Critical Power & Digital Infrastructure Services business. Kelly has been an advocate and volunteer with Her Spark since the first Summer Summit in 2018. Kelly joined the Her Spark Advisory Board in 2020 and assumed the President role in 2024. Her passion for encouraging and supporting women in the workforce, and especially in STEM careers has led her to support many community outreach programs, including Wake County Energy Advisory Commissions’ Wake Energy Camps, Girl Scouts’ TechnoQuest, and as a regional leader for Eaton’s Women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG).
Vice President
Dolly Haardt
Dolly advocates for inspiring girls to pursue careers in architecture and technology, recognizing the strides made by women in these fields. She believes that by showcasing female role models, young girls can envision themselves in previously unimagined places. Currently serving as the Southeast Regional Design Technology Manager for Gensler, Dolly enhances team capabilities in data capture, BIM, automation, and design resilience. Additionally, she is a Regional Lead for Women in BIM. With a career spanning over 20 years, Dolly began in New York architecture firms before transitioning to an Autodesk reseller, teaching software courses and 3D printing. Expanding her expertise, she managed production in a Metal Fabrication shop, implementing robotic automation and digital workflows. Dolly's journey epitomizes her dedication for technology-driven innovation. As Vice President of Her Spark, she strives to enlighten girls about the opportunities in architecture and technology, providing education on tools and igniting their aspirations for greatness.
Secretary
Open Role
The Secretary of Her Spark ensures the smooth functioning of the Board of Directors by providing clear communication and correspondence with Board members and stakeholders, maintaining organized files and records, and appropriately directing board workflow. The appropriate implementation of these duties ensure that records and files are up-to-date and accessible and serve as a time capsule to guide decision making. The Secretary organizes information and meetings for the organization to ensure operational efficiency and compliance. If interested in the role, contact us.
Treasurer
Briana Faulk
Briana has been in the IT industry for more than 9 years and is a Senior Engineer at Dell. She is the Co-Finance Lead for the eastern division of Dell’s Women In Action (WIA) Employee Resource Group (ERG). Her STEM experience, education and professional expertise positions Briana as an example to young girls and women that they can do anything that they put their minds to. In her capacity within the WIA ERG, she oversees the management and allocation of funds, enabling Dell to maintain its leadership in raising awareness and fostering diversity within the tech industry. As the Treasurer of Her Spark, Briana is responsible for all aspects of tax compliance, banking, financial planning, and budgeting.
Strategy Lead
Katie Wall
Katie Wall has been a woman in STEM since 2001, but her love for math began much earlier. As a former middle school math educator and Teacher of the Year, she has a passion for creating women's paths in STEM careers. She has held numerous roles in public schools, including an analyst and Director of Evaluation and Coaching, continually finding ways to help others engage with critical data in meaningful ways. After the unexpected loss of her spouse in 2016, Katie transitioned her skill sets and career to become a Certified Financial Planner ®. She joined the board in 2023 as strategy lead, and created workshops for summer participants on self-advocacy skills. Katie is a member of the Garner Chamber of Commerce, Raleigh Professional Women's Forum, a guest presenter at NC State's Poole College of Management, and frequently leads financial education workshops around the Triangle.
Events & Program Lead
Ruth Urbina
Ruth is an advocate for empowering young women through STEM education. She did not have the exposure to STEM programs through her teen years, and it is important to Ruth to share the value of STEM education with young girls. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a concentration in Management Information Systems from N.C. State, equipping her with a comprehensive understanding of both the technical and managerial aspects of her work. Right after completing her Bachelor's, she began her journey as a Project Manager at Cisco Systems where she is a member of several employee resource organizations. With a deep-rooted passion for technology and a strategic mindset, Ruth has a proven track record of delivering projects that exceed expectations. She started as a Her Spark volunteer in 2019 taking part in panel discussions and now manages event planning. She joined the board of directors in 2023.
Founder
Tess Bradford
Tess Bradford is the Founder and former first President of Her Spark. After voicing the need for STEM support for girls during a March 2017 women’s leadership conference, Tess reached out to local women leaders to establish what is now known as Her Spark. Tess continues to support the organization as a consultant. Tess is the CEO and owner of The Bright Insight Group, a management consulting firm that helps clients with business strategy and growth optimization. Tess Bradford is an accomplished executive who retired from a 19-year career at Bank of America and in her former role as a Senior Vice President she developed and implemented strategies for digital banking, mobile services, artificial intelligence, and social media platforms. Tess has held leadership positions in strategy, compliance, operational risk management, and online product innovation. Tess is a community leader and an advocate for STEM education for children.
Donor and Fundraising Lead
Open Role
The Donor and Fundraising Lead of Her Spark is responsible for developing and executing the strategy for donor relations, sponsorships and fundraising activities. The Donor and Fundraising role acts as an ambassador for Her Spark at public meetings, conferences and events and ensures that the board of directors and advisory board members understand and execute on the organization’s fundraising plan. If interested in the role, contact us.