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Women+ in Tech National Leadership Team
Tiffany Benitez - National President & Founder
Tiffany grew up in the beautiful islands of Hawaii. She currently lives in Bentonville, AR with her husband and children. She has spent her career in technology, across several industries. She started her career in the finance industry, with 12 years at Bank of America. Tiffany then made a move to the retail industry and took a role in technology at Walmart’s Home Office. She led several transformation and continuous improvement efforts, to progress the Global Data organization to Agile & Product ways of working. She then made a career move to Lowe’s Companies, Inc. and led the strategy, portfolio, Governance, Awareness, and communications areas for cyber-security in technology. With her time at Lowe’s, she led the Women in Technology group and served with the Women Empowered Business Resource Group leadership team. These roles allowed her to use her passion to drive change and advocacy for women across the organization. She is currently serving as a Senior Director in IT Applications for Tyson Foods, Inc. Tiffany is an Author, Speaker and Advocate for women, who uses her strong connection with people to drive change and empowerment.
Women+ in Tech of Central AR - Leadership Team
Sarah Thomas - President
Sarah Thomas is a results-driven Project Manager at the forefront of innovation across fintech, health technology, and emerging energy sectors. With a career dedicated to building smart systems and impactful solutions, she has worked closely with business accelerators to support startups and scaling companies in fintech, lithium technology, and veteran- and minority-owned enterprises. Her work includes guiding entrepreneurs through product development, operations, and funding strategies that turn bold ideas into sustainable, high-growth ventures.
Sarah’s expertise spans cross-sector partnerships and tech integration, including her support of BioVentures and health technology companies focused on improving clinical outcomes and health equity. She also serves as a researcher on the Hillside at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where she collaborates with federal agencies and health centers on community health research and patient engagement initiatives.
Her background in wellness and community advocacy enriches her approach to leadership and innovation, ensuring that people remain at the heart of the technology she helps shape. Sarah brings strategic vision and grounded empathy to every initiative—working to build a healthier, more connected future through smart, inclusive innovation.
Nero Omu-Scharfenberg - Vice President
Nero is a manufacturing engineer with over 15 years of experience spanning engineering, operations, and continuous improvement. She began her career as a design and manufacturing engineer in the automotive industry, where she held roles in production support, line efficiency, and project management. One of her most rewarding projects was serving as project manager and lead engineer for a major facility expansion in a high-volume automotive plant.
Eager to expand her skillset and work alongside more women in STEM leadership, she made the leap into cosmetics manufacturing — where she now focuses on packaging optimization, validation, and driving efficiency through data.
She holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Western Illinois University and has served on the university’s Engineering Advisory Council. A longtime advocate for equity in technical fields, she has mentored undergraduate women engineers through the local Society of Women Engineers (SWE) chapter and through workplace internship programs.
Colleagues often look to her for honest feedback, process clarity, and turning chaos into strategy. Whether she’s streamlining a workflow or giving candid career advice, she leads with empathy, efficiency, and a deep belief in the power of representation.
When she’s not working, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, bingeing audiobooks, and applying 5S principles at home—despite having two small children who enthusiastically undo every attempt within minutes. A philosophy that’s guided her career moves: if you’re going to work for the next 40 years, does a one-year leap of faith really set you back?
Elain Cossey - Chapter Operations Lead
Elain Cossey is a Workforce Development Manager at ed2go (Cengage Group), where she works at the intersection of education and technology to expand access to career training for adult learners. In her role, she supports colleges and training providers in leveraging workforce funding to reach underserved populations and help learners gain real-world skills.
Elain holds a B.S. in Leadership & Management from Harding University and a M.Ed. in Human Resources & Workforce Development from University of Arkansas. Her background spans legal research, government program monitoring, and case management, giving her a strong foundation in policy and a practical understanding of how to build programs that make an impact.
With over a decade of experience in education and workforce development, Elain is passionate about digital equity, career mobility, and helping communities thrive through education. She joined Women+ in Tech of Central Arkansas to collaborate with others in driving change through tech and to stay connected to innovations that support lifelong learning.
Meaghan Ferneau- Marketing Lead
Meaghan Ferneau is the Director of Demand Generation for an enterprise ecommerce and engagement platform, where she leads marketing programs that connect people to better rewards, recognition, and loyalty experiences. With nine years of experience in B2B SaaS, she focuses on building campaigns that drive pipeline, grow brand awareness, and create more meaningful engagement across the customer journey. Meaghan is passionate about aligning sales, marketing, and product to build scalable, revenue-driving strategies that support long-term growth. Her work blends creativity and performance—grounded in a deep understanding of what moves people to take action.
Beyond her career, Meaghan is actively involved in the Central Arkansas community. She serves on the board for the Delta Diamond Chef competition, supporting efforts to showcase the region’s culinary talent and fund culinary education. She’s also a board member of Central Arkansas Rescue Effort (CARE), an organization dedicated to rescuing and rehoming animals in need.
Tara Hauser- Communications Lead
Tara Hauser is a UX Designer based in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She is dedicated to creating inclusive and user-friendly digital experiences. She began her career as a Public Information Coordinator for the City of Hot Springs where she gained a deep appreciation for clear communication and community engagement.
Before transitioning into user experience, she worked as a Business Manager and coordinated Tech Fests, Hackathons, and team-building events. Tara is passionate about accessibility and focuses on making digital products that serve the needs of all users. With a background in communication and design, she brings a thoughtful, user-centered approach to every project.
Tara holds a B.A. in Mass Media from Henderson State University. She joined Women+ in Tech to build community and encourage others to explore opportunities in tech.