All-Star 'Tech Icons' Panel Featuring Most Celebrated Tech Leaders in North Carolina to Kick Off CED Tech Venture Conference 2014

DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), the largest and oldest entrepreneurial support organization in the country, today announced that it will kick off its CED Tech Venture Conference 2014 with an all-star panel featuring five of North Carolina's most celebrated technology leaders.

The opening-day "Tech Icons" panel will feature:

• Jim Goodnight, CEO, SAS
• Jesse Lipson, VP, Citrix (founder of ShareFile)
• Marc Noel, chairman, Nomaco and Nomacorc
• Chuck Swoboda, chairman and CEO, Cree
• Jim Whitehurst, president and CEO, Red Hat

Whitehurst will also serve as the facilitator for the discussion.

"When you consider the star power that will grace our stage, it's a reminder that the Triangle has a successful history of launching some of the most impressive technology companies in the world," said Joan Siefert Rose, president of CED. "It is because of leaders like our 'tech icons' panelists that North Carolina can truly stake its claim in the 'Rise of the Rest' – a growing awareness of places outside the traditional tech centers on the West Coast or in the Northeast that are leading the next wave of innovation in the technology sector."

More than 600 people are expected to attend the conference, which has become a "Who's Who" of the nation's technology industry -- from the hottest emerging tech companies to the most influential investors and tech leaders. It will be held Sept. 16-17 at the Raleigh Convention Center. The North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) is a presenting partner for the conference.

The conference attracts a broad sweep of representatives from North Carolina's top universities, companies from across the state, local and national venture capital firms, angel investors, corporate and strategic investors, and entrepreneurial support groups.

The full conference agenda can be found at:
www.cednc.org/techventureagenda.

"I am delighted to participate during the conference's opening-day panel discussion about innovation across the Triangle and North Carolina," said Whitehurst. "There is so much to talk about and be proud of -- and so much to learn about how tech companies really have an opportunity to rise to the top here."

Lipson agreed.

"My fellow panelists and I are excited to offer the audience an insider's perspective on our stories from the trenches, where our companies are headed and what excites us about the future of tech innovation across North Carolina," he said.

Goodnight said the progress of the region is undeniable – and understandable.

"This region of North Carolina is on the rise because it's a magnet for highly skilled talent," he said. "Excellent K-12 schools, three world-class universities, and a reputation as a hotbed of innovation help us attract and keep the best and brightest."

Swoboda said the region should not be shy about telling its story.

"North Carolina has created a dense network of knowledgeable and innovative people, and the world is starting to take notice," he said. "The state's proven ability to continuously attract global companies is impressive."

Noel said the close-knit technology community here is part of the area's success.

"We support and encourage each other," he said. "It's a very open and welcoming network, where we celebrate each other's successes and stand shoulder to shoulder. The coming together of like minds at this conference is evidence once again that together, we are thriving."

The conference will feature an opening-night keynote address by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Alec Sokolow, co-creator of the movies "Toy Story," "Garfield," "Evan Almighty," "Cheaper by the Dozen" and more, as well as the "Skylanders" video game series. His address is titled, "To Infinity and Beyond: The Evolution of Digital Storytelling." Maciej Kranz, vice president of corporate technology for Cisco, will give the closing keynote on "The Internet of Everything."

In addition to the tech icons panel and two powerhouse keynote addresses, the conference features more than 80 companies that are "On the Rise."  Twenty growth-stage "showcase" companies will have six minutes each to tell their story on the main stage, and more than 60 early-stage companies will demonstrate their products and technologies in a Demo Room at the conference.

The showcase and demo companies hail from across the state, including: Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Morrisville, Hillsborough, Wilmington, Charlotte, Wake Forest, Statesville, Greensboro, Rocky Mount and Zebulon. Companies from Virginia and Kentucky will also be featured.

"This conference is a one-stop shop for inspiration and networking, from hearing the personal stories of some of the nation's most celebrated tech visionaries, to seeing the full range of North Carolina's most exciting early-stage and growth-stage companies, to meeting investors from across the nation," said Jay Bigelow, CED's director of entrepreneurship. "You don't want to miss it."

Industry sectors that will be highlighted at this year's conference include ecommerce and marketing, digital health, new media, mobile and data, and advanced materials/manufacturing.

About CED
CED is the network that helps Triangle entrepreneurs build successful companies.

CED Website: http://www.cednc.org
Conference Website: cednc.org/techventure
2014 Demo and Showcase Companies: http://ow.ly/B2y2h

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SOURCE Council for Entrepreneurial Development