Please join us in welcoming Dr. Sarah Glova to the team. Sarah joins as RIoT’s first Director of Communications & Growth.

Sarah will be directly supporting RIoT’s 75+ sponsors, helping to architect RIoTs and partner events, leading marketing and communication efforts, and supporting RIoT’s mission of capturing and growing IoT opportunities.

We asked Sarah a few questions about her new role and how she feels about jumping into the world of IoT and economic development:

 

  • What excites you the most about IoT?
    Sarah: The industrial applications. Of course, as a consumer, I appreciate personal device connectivity—I love that my smart watch prompts me to make smarter health decisions about my activity level. But I’m learning more about how IoT can impact enterprise-level organizations, everything from integrated sensors and employee wearable technology to reduce errors and bolster safety in factories to self-driving tractors that are changing the landscape of agriculture… those are the kinds of paradigm-shifting innovations that got me interested in IoT.

 

  • Thinking about your new role, where are you most looking forward to diving in?
    Sarah: I can’t wait to get to know our sponsors. RIoT sponsors are incredibly supportive, and now that the organization has over 75 sponsors, I recognize the incredible diversity within the group. There are major corporations and tier-I research universities, but there are also new startups and innovative municipal teams. I can tell I’m going to learn a lot. I can’t wait to learn how I can be supporting these great organizations that make RIoT possible.

 

  • What can we expect in the next 90 days?
    Sarah: Lots of communication from RIoT. Tom is leading major efforts with our partners to expand offerings to greater serve the IoT community. Rachael is kicking off the 2nd cohort of the RIoT Accelerator Program (RAP), so we’ll be working with new startups soon. And as Event Coordinator, Caroline is who makes our RIoTs and partner events possible. Our Smart Gigabit Cities event – RIoT 30 – will be in Durham on January 22nd, and we’ll be partnering with IoT Evolution in  Ft. Lauderdale from January 29th to February 3rd for RIoT 31. February 11-15, we partner with the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) and SAS in Raleigh for RIoT 32. So lots of great events coming up for RIoTers!

 

More about Sarah:

Before joining RIoT, Sarah founded and grew the award-winning digital media company, Reify Media; she continues to be the sole-owner of that self-funded company, which she grew to over half a million in annual revenue after just three years. She’s also a published author who has spoken internationally about topics ranging from instructional technology, active learning, web and eLearning trends, and entrepreneurship.

In addition to her entrepreneurial experience, Sarah previously taught technical writing to engineering and business students at NC State University. She has a background in Technical Communication; as a software manual writer for IBM and a program manual developer for the State of North Carolina’s Council for Women.  Sarah earned both her MS in Technical Communication and PhD in Instructional Technology from NC State University.

Sarah is a passionate supporter of diversity and inclusion, and has served multiple leadership roles supporting women in entrepreneurship and women in technology.  She was the youngest President in the 40-year history of the National Association of Women Business Owners Greater Raleigh Chapter. She’s also an advocate and supporter of youth education initiatives such as the Boys and Girls Club.

Sarah lives in Raleigh with her husband Matt and their young son Sawyer. Find Sarah on Twitter at @chirpsbySarah.