Bernard Daines and James LeVoy Sorenson to be honored at Nov. 30 event
SALT LAKE CITY , July 10, 2007 – The Utah Technology Council (UTC) today announced its ninth annual Hall of Fame awards dinner will honor and induct technology leaders Bernard Daines, father of the Gigabit Ethernet, and James LeVoy Sorenson, medical device pioneer. The black-tie event will take place on Friday, November 30, 2007, at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Hall of Fame event honors individuals with Utah ties who have made key contributions to the information technology and life science industries through new technology, innovation and leadership. These contributions have resulted in job growth, commercialization of technology and increased growth and development of the nation’s technology sector and economy. The UTC welcomes members of Utah’s technology industries, as well as business and community leaders, to join in honoring this year’s inductees.
Bernard Daines
Bernard Daines is widely recognized as an expert in Ethernet technology. His expertise covers many achievements and decades of work as a pioneering leader in the network communications industry. Daines has been instrumental in the development of IEEE standards and solutions for Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet. In 1992, he triggered the massive growth of the networking industry when he co-founded Grand Junction Networks—the industry’s first Fast Ethernet switch manufacturer. Daines also founded Packet Engines in 1994 where he led the industry’s adoption of Gigabit Ethernet technology. Daines pioneered into the optical broadband revolution in founding World Wide Packets in 1999. As chairman and CEO of Linux Networx, Daines delivered clustered super-computer systems with unparalleled price/performance capabilities. Moreover, he led the adoption of new market opportunities for Ethernet in the Local Area Network, Ethernet in the Metro Area Network and Ethernet in the First Mile. His contributions to the advancement of the networking industry have been recognized globally. He has been a key player in developing a computer science department at his alma mater, BrighamYoungUniversity, and has participated in course instruction and curriculum formation.
James LeVoy Sorenson
James LeVoy Sorenson is an inventor, researcher and philanthropist who began his career as a pharmaceuticals salesman. There he realized the need for improvement in the medical world and began inventing. Among his first inventions were the disposable surgical mask, the first catheter tip and the first blood recycling system for trauma and surgical procedures. Perhaps Sorenson is best known for developing the computerized heart monitor, which was the first device to accurately monitor conditions inside a living human. With more than 40 medical patents, his inventions adorn almost every operating room and intensive care unit in the United States today. Sorenson Research, launched in 1962, had produced about 500 individual products and employed 1,700 people ten years after its start. Abbott Laboratories purchased the company in 1980. Now Sorenson owns Sorenson Cos., the parent company to 32 corporations in numerous industries including medical, bioscience, investment/development and manufacturing. Sorenson, at 82 years old, continues to work. His latest project involves collecting DNA samples from around the world in order to map inheritance patterns. The Molecular Genealogy Research Project will allow future generations to compare their DNA, and Sorenson hopes, will help the world realize the “connectiveness of people.” By showing the closeness of human beings through DNA, Sorenson believes he can promote peace, compassion and brotherhood among humankind. This year’s inductees will be joining the prior Hall of Fame inductees Stephen Aldous, Alan Ashton, David Bailey, Bruce Bastian, Nolan Bushnell, Edwin E. Catmull, Dr. James Clark, David Evans, Philo Taylor Farnsworth, Jim Kajiya, Alan Kay, Spencer Kirk, Drew Major, Raymond Noorda, Dinesh Patel, Shane V. Robinson, Kevin Rollins, David Spafford, Thomas Stockham, Jr., Ivan Sutherland, Homer Warner and John E. Warnock. Utah Technology Council’s Hall of Fame celebration begins with a networking reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner starting at 7 p.m. For information on sponsorships and tables, contact Mark Lehnhof at (801) 568-3500 or mark@utahtechcouncil.org. Proceeds will help foster the growth of Utah’s technology community.
About Utah Technology Council
As the premier professional organization for more than 4,300 Utah life science and IT companies, the Utah Technology Council (UTC) exists to form closer relationships with industry and community leaders, develop superior management talent, sharpen professional skills and help gain access to capital. For more information on UTC, please visit http://www.utahtechcouncil.org.
# # #
PR Agency Contact:
Snapp Conner PR
Cheryl Snapp Conner
T) 801-994-9625
cheryl@snappconner.com
UTC Contact
Judy Young
801-568-3500
jyoung@utahtechcouncil.org
| 
