Moderator:
Shari Liss, Vice President of Global Workforce Development and Initiatives, SEMI Foundation
Shari Liss is the Vice President of Global Workforce Development and Initiatives. Shari is responsible for driving the SEMI Strategic Initiatives for Workforce Development. Specifically, she provides leadership to the SEMI Foundation with sustainable programs that attract and fill the global electronics industry talent pipeline. Shari is also responsible for leading our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
Shari joined SEMI from Ignited, where she was the Chief Executive Officer. At Ignited, she recruited, trained, and placed more than 400 educators in summer fellowships at top companies for transformative professional development that grew the Bay Area’s STEM talent pool and workforce pipelines. Prior to Ignited, Shari piloted an alternative high school for at-risk students, taught college calculus, and developed a mathematics programs to serve both gifted and challenged students in the Bay Area. She was also named a Woman of Influence in 2017 by the Silicon Valley Business Journal for her long-standing service to the education and nonprofit communities.
Shari received a Bachelor of Science, Mathematics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master of Science, Mathematics from the State University of New York at Albany.
Panelists:
Joni Podolsky, Sr. Director of Global Inclusion & Diversity, KLA Corporation
Joni joined KLA in 2018 to formalize and lead its inclusion and diversity (I&D) strategy. In this role Joni is responsible for driving programs and initiatives to help the company benefit from the diversity of all individual and collective ideas, backgrounds and experiences of its global workforce. Joni has over 30 years of experience in engaging employees in corporate social responsibility, including 13 years leading I&D. Active in the community, Joni has served on a number of nonprofit boards and currently serves on the San Francisco Bay Area Advisory Board of Facing History and Ourselves. Joni is author of the book "Wired for Good: Strategic Technology Planning for Nonprofits" (Jossey-Bass 2003) and is a recipient of the 2014 Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Top 100 Silicon Valley Women of Influence award. She holds a BA in Communications, and Minor in Music from Lewis and Clark College.
Margaret Terrell, Human Resources Generalist, Nikon Precision
Margaret is the Lead of Talent & Culture at Nikon Precision Inc. She hopes to create an environment where employees feel valued and safe, enabling them to bring their authentic selves to work. Her role includes Talent Acquisition Lead, DEI champion, L&D, and Employee Engagement. She enjoys building community among employees and keeping a pulse on industry and HR trends. She is currently the Chairperson of the new ERG, We Belong at Nikon whose mission is to continue fostering a sense of belonging and creating equitable opportunities that drive success. She’s also the co-lead of the Employee Activities Committee, an employee-run committee that seeks to improve the overall workplace experience by fostering employee interaction and engagement. Margaret has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and is SHRM-CP Certified. She enjoys hiking in the Pacific Northwest, reading, writing, playing games, and spending time with family and friends.
Jorge Villalobos, Sr. Director - Manufacturing Operations, Onto Innovation
Jorge is currently the senior director of manufacturing operations at Onto Innovation. He has over 25 years in the semiconductor industry, working in Manufacturing, R&D, Engineering and Training departments for various high technology corporations, ranging from start-ups to well established companies. Jorge holds a Bachelors in Electronic Engineering Technology and an MBA from Mills College. He is a member of the SEMI Foundation Advisory Board as well as other non-profit organizations.
Bettina Weiss, Chief of Staff and Corporate Strategy, SEMI
As Chief of Staff & Corporate Strategy, Bettina Weiss reports to SEMI’s President & CEO and manages a broad portfolio of responsibilities. Major focus areas include advancing specific global strategic initiatives such as SEMI’s Smart Mobility and Supply Chain initiatives and SEMI University, facilitate thought leadership (Think Tanks) activities in key strategic areas as well as improving organizational efficiency, alignment and financial sustainability. In addition, Weiss is the Sr. Liaison to the SEMI Board of Industry Leaders, leading strategic partnerships and M&A activity, and supporting the President & CEO in successfully creating a highly effective, agile global association.
Weiss joined SEMI in 1996 and held a variety of positions in SEMI’s International Standards department, including department lead, global responsibility for SEMI's Photovoltaic/Solar Business Unit, business development including the integration of SEMI Strategic Association Partners FlexTech, MEMS & Sensors Industry Group, ESD Alliance and the SOI Consortium.
Prior to joining SEMI, Weiss worked in sales and marketing positions at Metron Semiconductor and Varian Semiconductor in Munich, Germany. She holds a BA from the International School for Applied Languages in Munich, Germany, and is a certified translator for Anglo-American Law and Economics.