Pittsburgh, PA, June 17, 2026 – AIM Global, the trusted global authority in barcode, biometrics, IoT, NFC, RFID, RTLS, and RAIN technologies for over 50 years along with its chapter, AIM North America, is proud to announce the winners of its annual Women of Distinction and Professional of the Year awards.
These awards recognize women leaders who exemplify professional excellence, resilience, and the courage to break boundaries, while dedicating themselves to community service and the active mentorship of the next generation of trailblazers. These awards were presented last week at the GS1 Connect event in Las Vegas by board members Patti Blessing, Zebra Technologies and Julie McGill, Trustwell.
AIM Women of Distinction Award
This award, part of AIM’s Women of AIDC Mastermind Group, was instituted in 2025 and pays tribute to women leaders who have made extraordinary accomplishments in their professions or their communities. This year’s winner is Julie Vargas.
Julie Vargas extensive career in retail technology spans over three decades, during which she has been instrumental in integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine vision, and the Internet of Things into supply chain management practices. Julie’s influence also extends beyond technology strategy, as she has consistently helped elevate conversations
around how data capture, automation, and connected systems can create more responsive and resilient supply chains at key industry conferences as well as on podcasts and webinars. Her work has helped people and organizations better understand not only what these technologies can do, but why they matter to business performance, operational visibility, and the customer experience. This commitment to driving progress and her influential role in shaping the future of AIDC make her a deserving recipient for recognition as a Woman of Distinction.
AIM North America Professional of the Year Award
Since 2011, this award has been presented annually to an individual in recognition of innovative and exceptional contributions to the development of the asset intelligence industry through their work as a contributor, collaborator, or mentor. This year, the awardee is Amber Engebretson.
Amber Engebretson is the kind of professional who makes everyone around her better — not just through her expertise, but through the way she shows up. What truly sets Amber apart is her character: which comes
through in every interaction she has with customers, partners, and peers. Her guiding mission, “food safety for everyone”, reflects who she is, not just what she does. She approaches traceability implementation not as a technology deployment but as a human challenge, meeting people where they are with patience and genuine care. She has personally led programs that evolved from paper-based processes all the way through to full RFID tagging, and the way she guides teams through that change — with empathy and clarity — is what makes it stick. In an industry that can feel transactional, Amber is refreshingly relational. People trust her because she earns it every time.
“These awards celebrate true catalysts for change, who are redefining what it means to lead. Our honorees not only demonstrate unparalleled professional excellence, but they also anchor their success in a deep commitment to community uplift. By actively mentoring the next wave of innovators, they ensure that the path they have forged remains wide open for others to follow,” shared Mary Lou Bosco, President, AIM Global
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