Dr. Laine Powell is the founder and CEO of Tech Sassy Girlz, a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future workforce by transforming the lives of adolescent girls to pursue science, technology,engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields through career readiness, mentoring and entrepreneurship.

Taking on the challenge head-on of addressing the notable shortage of girls and women in STEM fields, Dr. Powell created the organization in 2012 to address the critical shortage of women and minorities being represented in high-tech STEM careers. She firmly believes that leveraging technology is an opportunity for girls to be content creators, makers and entrepreneurs. To date, Tech Sassy Girlz has served over 3,000 girls.

Dr. Powell is also the vice president for AceApplications, LLC, a technology solutions provider for businesses, schools, and government agencies. AceApplications delivers custom software, systems integration, mobile app and web development, data analytics and reporting, training and IT staff augmentation.

In the community, Dr. Powell is a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the University of Florida Alumni Association, and serves on the board of Florida Network of Youth and Family Services, and the Women’s Business Center at Seminole State College. Dr. Powell recently completed her four year term on the board of Florida Polytechnic University.