Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, Addresses Nearly 900 Utah Executives at Utah
Technology Council`s 11th Annual Hall of Fame Celebration Event
SALT LAKE CITY--(Business Wire)--
"Cloud computing," the concept of devices connecting to the internet "cloud" to
access powerful applications to accomplish whatever they need, is a concept
Google CEO Eric Schmidt has been foretelling for the past 10-15 years. Today it
is a phenomenon even greater than the advent of personal computing, he says.
Schmidt shared his remarks in a couch-side keynote chat with David Bradford, CEO
of Fusion-io, with a sell-out crowd of nearly 900 Utah executives at the Utah
Technology Council`s (UTC) 11th Annual Hall of Fame celebration event at the
Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City Friday night.
In his remarks, Schmidt noted that Utah is the best place in America for
starting a business. He also acknowledged Utah`s broadband initiatives in Provo
and Salt Lake City as key steps in supporting a knowledge economy that will
allow a tremendous new wave of business and technology innovation to occur.
At the event, UTC CEO Richard R. Nelson noted interesting data from a recent UTC
survey of 172 current UTC member organizations. Of these 172 companies, 8
percent are currently thriving. More than half of the companies queried - 58
percent - report they are currently growing. Twenty-nine percent are holding
steady. And only 5 percent of the 172 - a small minority - report that they are
currently in a state of decline.
"Ninety-five percent of our technology companies are thriving, growing or
holding steady - a success level that far exceeds the majority of the United
States," Nelson said. "In fact, several national publications have ranked Utah
as the region best poised to emerge from the current recession quickly."
Nelson noted the number of technology companies in Utah has risen dramatically,
from several hundred companies in 1999 to more than 5,500 today.
Following the keynote discussion, the UTC formally inducted Greg Butterfield,
Managing Partner of SageCreek Partners, and Peter D. Meldrum and Mark H.
Skolnick, Ph.D., co-founders of Myriad Genetics, to its 11th Hall of Fame, which
honors individuals with ties to Utah who have made key contributions to the
technology and life science industries.
"We are extremely honored to recognize these tremendous individuals for their
outstanding achievements and for the impact they`ve made on technology
throughout the world," Nelson said.
About Utah Technology Council
Utah`s premier professional association, the Utah Technology Council, has become
the essential business resource for life science and high-tech companies seeking
to achieve greater success. At its core, UTC exists to foster the Growth of the
state`s more than 5,000 technology companies, ensure Utah develops the highest
Quality Workforce in the nation, and attract an ever-increasing array of
Funding. Members join UTC to share insights with industry peers, counsel with
government and academic leaders, and receive help from professional service
providers and funding resources. To become a member of this "must join"
organization, visit www.utahtechcouncil.org or call 801-568-3500 today.
Snapp Conner PR
Cheryl Snapp Conner, 801-994-9625
cheryl@snappconner.com
or
Utah Technology Council
Judy Young, 801-568-3500
jyoung@utahtechcouncil.org
Copyright Business Wire 2009
