Sue Scott 
 

My name is Sue Scott and I am Vice President of Cadtek Services, Inc., a computer graphics firm in Maitland, Florida.

I was always involved in artistic endeavors while growing up, so upon entering college I tried to find a practical and creative outlet that I could actually make a living at.  At that time, the college I was attending had only one computer!  After earning a 4 year degree in Interior Design (heavily slanted toward architecture) from Central Michigan University, I entered the work force in 1982.  This was just at the peak of the worst recession to hit Michigan in several decades, and I moved to Florida in response to a job offer.  I have been here ever since.

I got my start in computer graphics while doing Architectural drawings for a firm in Orlando, Florida.  There were five women in the 15 person firm: two secretaries, an accountant, an entry-level architect and me.  When the firm grew to 40 people or so, there were about 10 women, but all except four of us were in support rolls.  When we began using CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) in 1987 I jumped at the opportunity and taught myself the program.  What a wonderful thing, the computer, with no more repetitious tasks, vastly increased efficiency, and neat and clean drawings.  It was a dream come true! Now, if only they had paid me what they paid the men who produced half as much.  In 1988 I left the Architectural firm to team up with Lynn Finch, who had started Cadtek Services, Inc. a year earlier.

When I am not managing architectural drafting projects and delving into challenging production tasks, I'm eagerly creating 3D graphics, mainly for use with The Palace chat environment.  You can see some of my work on my own web page, and on two other Palaces: The Finch Nest, and one at the LAG.COM Palace Directory.  These images combine all the abilities and education I have garnered over the years: architecture, interior design, art, design sense, and a stubborn determination to make it work no matter what the hurdles.

Animations I have created include those for a film opening, architectural walk throughs and fly throughs, a touch-screen information system, a game introduction, the ubiquitous flying logos, and marketing videos.  I also create architectural renderings for presentations and 3D models for design development purposes.  One of the more interesting 3D visualizations that I have done was for a 14 foot high walk through heart at the new Orlando Science Center, which opened on February 2, 1997, and I have recently begun exploring VRML.
 
 

"... if we always try, at all times, to be the best we can be, we have automatically beat the better part of our competition".
 
 We are very much an entrepreneurial company, with 5 women and 2 men. We are always stretching the limit and reaching for new markets. The requirements for success are the abilities to learn constantly and adapt quickly, and of course, high quality is imperative.  It's simple but true that if we always try, at all times, to be the best we can be, we have automatically beat the better part of our competition.
 
"This is truly a field where women can shine; it is new enough that it doesn't carry with it the baggage of being male-dominated ..."
 
While discrimination was a daily ball-and-chain for me at the architectural firm, I find little or no evidence of it in the computer graphics world.  Maybe this is because I have a lot of control over the types of things I pursue.  Women are naturals when it comes to the creative use of computers, and a lot of ground has been broken by women in this field.  This is truly a field where women can shine; it is new enough that it doesn't carry with it the baggage of being male-dominated, like so many other high skill fields have been historically.

Women also seem to bring to animations and 3D graphics a different sort of dimension that's a little hard to define.  We are free to be totally, utterly ourselves in our expression because there are no pre-set expectations, no male-developed models we must follow in order to succeed.

I was very impressed with Siggraph when I attended in 1995, but I did not make it this year.  However, I do plan on attending whenever possible.
 

"Forget about the male-ability / female-ability stuff, it does not matter here".
 
To all women entering this exciting, exploding arena, I say: Do whatever you love, and ignore any advice to the contrary. Forget about the male-ability / female-ability stuff, it does not matter here.  If you pour your energy and enthusiasm into it, you will succeed.

I have and co-support, with my husband of 12 years, 2 children.  Yes, sometimes it's been a real struggle; there's no denying that.  It does take some time to learn to be Superwoman, but it is do-able, so take heart all you who would travel this path.

When away from the fast pace of the office, I enjoy reading, traveling, making home-brewed beer, taking my children to places where they can learn and get excited about being creative, and being with my cats.  I also love to surf the 'net and chat on-line at the Palace, where I am a "wizard", assisting people and generally trouble-shooting.