SDForum Announces Results of 13th Annual Visionary Awards

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- SDForum, Silicon Valley's leading source of information and education in the technology community, today announced the success of the 13th Annual Visionary Awards and the four winners of the awards, including Reid Hoffman, Chris Shipley, Arthur Patterson and Brent Schlender.

The award-winners, who have fostered the spirit of entrepreneurship and made significant contributions in the fields of social media, venture capital and technology reporting, shared their unique motivations and aspirations with the 250 attendees. Introduced by their friends and colleagues, the audience was given a rare glimpse into the personalities of today's leading minds and innovators. Bart van Bolhuis, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, graciously provided welcome remarks for the event where Microsoft Founder, Bill Gates, introduced award winner Brent Schlender via video and the Honorable Chuck Reed, Mayor of San Jose, was in attendance.

"The people of Silicon Valley have changed the world. The innovations that have come out of our collective efforts have helped raise the living standards for hundreds of millions of people," said Mayor Chuck Reed. "Today we honor innovators whose work is transforming technology and social interaction around the world."

Every year since 1998, SDForum has honored outstanding industry leaders who have pioneered paradigm-shifting technologies and fostered the spirit of entrepreneurship. These visionaries have significantly contributed to the development of Silicon Valley as a worldwide hub for technology. Past recipients include Lou Gerstner, Bill Gates, Vint Cerf, Kay Koplowitz, John Chambers, Reed Hastings, Walt Mossberg and Ray Ozzie.

"Entrepreneurship is how we adapt to the future, and create it. We do that quite well here in Silicon Valley," said Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn Co-Founder. "I am honored and humbled to accept this award from SDForum. It is an enormous privilege to be at the center fulcrum of creating the future that we call Silicon Valley - thank you."

"California's unique culture provides our community with an exceptional platform for personal growth and I am a firm believer that applied technologies create our future," said Arthur Patterson, Accel co-founder. "SDForum continues to support and facilitate the new business creation process that permeates throughout the Silicon Valley and it is an honor to accept this award."

"We are so lucky to be in this place, working with entrepreneurs in this extraordinary valley," said Chris Shipley, Co-Founder and CEO at Guidewire Group. "Reporting and advising on technology has always been a passion of mine and I feel very lucky to be accepting this prestigious award from SDForum."

"I have been lucky enough to have a front-row seat to witness the most amazing business and technology story of our generation," said Brent Schlender Executive-Director and Co-Founder at Techonomy. "It is an honor to know that my body of work is recognized alongside the same people I write about and admire by SDForum, a conduit for visionaries."

The SDForum Board of Directors selected this year's recipients based on their ongoing contributions to the ever-evolving and underlying rules of improving technology across a broad range of industries.

"The Silicon Valley community is proud to come together and honor these extraordinary people who continue to define and lead this industry," said Susan Lucas-Conwell, CEO of SDForum. "In front of an exclusive audience of their peers and colleagues the annual SDForum Visionary Awards ceremony recognizes these individuals for their continued dedication and commitment to their respective fields."

"Microsoft is excited to be active supporters and participants in the perennial Visionary Awards. Through this event, SDForum recognizes elite contributors in our field, "said Dan'l Lewin, Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Strategic and Emerging Business Development. "Microsoft is honored to have had three of its leaders; Bill Gates, Nathan Myhrvold and Ray Ozzie recognized at past awards, and wishes to offer a heartfelt congratulations to this year's Visionary Awards recipients for their outstanding achievements."

The 2010 Visionary Awards ceremony was held at a private home in Los Altos Hills and is sponsored by Microsoft, Nokia, Open-First, Deloitte and Nasdaq.

About SDForum

SDForum has been instrumental in setting the technology industry agenda for more than 25 years. As the largest and oldest non-profit in the valley dedicated to educating and creating relationships within the technology community, SDForum reaches 12,000 professionals in technology annually through more than 300 events. These programs provide the latest insights on emerging technology trends and best business practices as well as exceptional access to resources for entrepreneurs. Long-standing relationships include the Dutch Government, City of San Jose, multi-national technology enterprises (HP, IBM, Microsoft, Nokia, Microsoft and SAP), venture investment firms, as well as technology startups, and service providers. For more information, visit www.sdforum.org.

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SOURCE SDForum