"After a lifetime of MY OWN housing challenges, I understand that affordable housing IS MY MISSION"

i fell in love with the excitement of technology when i worked as a  new tech sales rep  for Exxon Office Systems and as a recruiter for VP's of slaes and marketing for some of the worlds top technology technology companies  in the Silicon Valley, before they even started calling it that.  I knew that this place was something special and made sure I was a part of the tech  world for the rest of my life. 

FAST FORWARD TO EARLY 90's STUDY:  GIRLS SELF ESTEEM DROPS RAPIDLY AT AGE 11   Pamela’s mission to boost girls’ confidence in tech kicked off after a startling read about young girls losing self-esteem at age 11. The issue? They weren’t getting the same exposure to tech and new experiences in the ways boys were exposed to try things, that its ok to make mistakes, explore, mess up and try again. So, Pamela set out to change that for her daughter, introducing her to everything from Shakespeare to coding, scuba diving to violin, sailing to computer building, and even blues camps where she was one of the few girls participating. In 1997, when her daughter got tagged as a “nerd” for loving tech, Pamela didn’t miss a beat. She knew she had to get other girls on board with tech too. So, off they went to the National Association of Broadcasters Conference (NAB)  in Las Vegas in 1999. Her daughter was blown away by the tech world’s wonders—so much so that being called a nerd became a badge of honor. She was ready to explore how tech could bring her own ideas to life. 

Pamela and her daughter had a lightbulb moment: they’d start the Teen Technology Association (TTA). They realized that the internet was the new TV, so there was no stress about not being on traditional television. TTA’s mission? To get girls and teens hyped about tech by bringing them to cool conferences and making fun media content.

Pamela got creative and set up an actual Web Show SET and created and wrote the script for  ‘The Diva Zone’ and other shows right in her living room, styled after the popular ones teens loved, like MTV. She even got sponsors on board to reward teens for diving into tech. Pamela kept the momentum going with events that showcased the thrilling world of tech but in a way that the local teen girls loved being a part of her posse of cool theens that knew how to make it cooler.

At the NAB 1999, Pamela met Allison Dollar, who was all in on Pamela’s vision. Allison invited her to host a youth event at ETV world. The teens came, auditioned, and explored the conference, chatting with tech innovators. They learned about the tech that could lead to big bucks and cool careers. It was an eye-opener for the teens, showing them a world of possibilities.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 1999 — Today, Microsoft Corp. launched a new space called Microsoft SF, a place where you can get hands-on with all things tech. Imagine a spot where you can watch music videos, see inspiring shows about girls making it big in tech, catch the latest tech inventions, laugh at skits from Silicon Valley, and even take a peek inside real tech companies.

Pamela, with her eye on the tech scene, realized that sending IT jobs overseas wasn’t the best move for the U.S. So, she came up with a plan to fire up American teens about tech careers. Picture a TV channel like MTV, but it’s all about tech ads, cool gadgets, and breakthroughs, plus you get points for learning about tech. The dream? To get teens pumped about a future in IT.

While Microsoft chose to hire from abroad, Pamela couldn’t shake off the idea: Why not do both? Why not spark a tech revolution among American teens while also exploring global talent? That’s the vision she had for changing the game in IT education and employment

 In 2013, Pamela returned to the STEM scene in Santa Monica, California. She saw that teens in the U.S. still weren’t getting enough chances to dive into STEM. So, she set out to make sure the youth of Santa Monica had their own STEM program. She updated the GRUVE TV idea, and soon, 40 students from Santa Monica College were lining up to try out. They were going to make cool videos and host events about tech and the eco-friendly initiatives that Santa Monica was leading. Pamela reached out to the Macerich Group, who run Santa Monica Place mall, and they were all for it. The only thing missing was a way to make money from the program, which they didn’t figure out until around 2021/22. 

Pamela’s innovative idea was to launch an engaging, MTV-style network that would incentivize American teens to embrace technology through a rewards system. Her most notable technological achievement was the production of a show featuring over 20 teenagers, in collaboration with Lily Kanter, a pioneer of Microsoft retail and the mind behind the first Microsoft store. This groundbreaking show was recorded at the Microsoft store within the Metreon complex prior to its public unveiling.

Subsequently, Pamela was tasked by SONY, the Metreon’s administrators, to spearhead a fresh production that showcased the Metreon’s latest tech advancements in retail, shopping, products, and services. Over a tight nine-day production schedule, she orchestrated compelling technology-focused media content with a cast of 40 skilled teenage actors, radio DJs, and interactive activities like dancing, virtual bowling, and tech product demonstrations.

Following this venture, Lily Kanter put forward Pamela’s name for the prestigious ‘National Techies’ Award, sponsored by Microsoft and the Gartner Group. Pamela triumphed, earning the accolade alongside seven other recipients. In 2000, the awardees were invited to Washington D.C. to engage with state officials and advocate for the expansion of IT and tech employment opportunities. The awards ceremony took place at the Department of Commerce, with former Senator Norman Minetta bestowing the honors.

While Microsoft recognized Pamela’s organization with a bounty of in-kind gifts, including trips, software, and a brand-new PC, they stopped short of providing the financial backing needed to pilot the GRUVE TV Network. Had it been funded, this initiative had the potential to ignite a transformative wave in technology education across the nation..