MaryAnn Munroe
Marketing technologies group manager, SunExpress, Inc.

MaryAnn Munroe is the marketing technologies group manager for SunExpress, Inc., and is responsible for managing the development of worldwide, customer-focused technologies - tools that assist people to be successful in their jobs. A brief investigation reveals that her ardent professional growth and business achievements sprang from an early childhood passion for aiding and supporting others.

Even as a youngster, Munroe was inwardly compelled to help out her family. Born the first of four children, her family lived on modest means while her father attended college in order to achieve a B.S. in leather engineering. When Munroe took on a paper route, she shared her earnings with her siblings.

While in grade school, Munroe was promoted to a higher grade level, resulting in her being one of the youngest children in her class. Teased for being junior and taunted for the need to wear very thick eyeglasses, she resolved then to treat other people with respect.

As adversity can breed strength, Munroe was determined to overcome life's tribulations. She went on to achieve a B.S. in sociology and elementary education plus an M.B.A. and invested over a decade at Wang Laboratories in sales and marketing.

Munroe joined SunExpress in January 1990 as business development manager, progressed to operations manager and subsequently marketing technologies group manager. In 1993, she received the prestigious Sun Microsystems President's Award for her strategic contributions to the success of SunExpress. Munroe has also been a keynote speaker at major technology conferences on the Internet and electronic commerce.

In addition to her business contributions, Munroe has proven to be a truly gifted group leader and has, on countless occasions, demonstrated the ability to perfectly balance her leadership skills with an individual contributor's need for growth - with direction and compassion.

Munroe and her husband, Paul, enjoy raising their two active boys (adopted from Korea) and even though she accepts a very demanding work and travel schedule, she continues to devote time to her siblings, parents, friends and church.