-----Original Message-----
From: The DIGITALDIVIDE discussion group
[mailto:DIGITALDIVIDE@CDINET.COM]On Behalf Of Fadhilika Atiba-Weza
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2001 4:58 PM
To: DIGITALDIVIDE@CDINET.COM
Subject: [DIGITALDIVIDE] 50 Most Important African-Americans in
Technology list announced
CHICAGO, IL, Aug. 17, 2001 -- The 2001 list of the 50 Most Important African-Americans in Technology demonstrates the critical role that blacks play in the growth of cutting edge industries. Selected by the editors of blackmoney.com and souloftechnology.net, the list is part of a campaign to double African-American employment in technology and technology-related jobs from 500,000 to 1 million.
Howard University's School of Business will host the selectees in a special event on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001, which will include daytime colloquia on achieving that goal and a televised discussion with top policy makers in the evening.
"For as long as 45 years, these standouts have pushed the boundaries of science and engineering while demonstrating a sincere, heartfelt commitment to opening opportunities to those often overlooked," said John William Templeton, executive editor of blackmoney.com and souloftechnology.net.
Profiles of the honorees will be included in the fifth edition of The Black Students Internet Guide, distributed to 9,000 schools around the country that serve 80 percent of the black students nationally. A campaign to recruit technology volunteers at those schools kicks off with the Oct. 20 event. Richard Parsons, co-COO of AOL Time Warner Inc. in New York, was judged the most important of the selectees for the scale of the enterprise he manages and his extraordinary community activities in Harlem and around the country, including a new $100 million AOL fund to support minority technology ventures.
Gen. Lester Lyles, commander of the U.S. Air Force Material Command based in Ohio, represents the important role that the armed forces have played in providing exposure to training and experience in technology, particularly to the 422,000 blacks currently serving, and the Department of Defense's role in fostering black technology entrepreneurship.
For instance, Julia Johnson, vice president of MilCom in Orlando, FL, chairs the Governor's Information Technology Task Force in Florida after heading the Public Service Commission for two years, helping to shape policy for the state's technological development.
Fourteen selectees are from the Washington, D.C. area, reflecting the success of black entrepreneurs in leveraging government contracts into substantial firms. They are: FCC Chair Michael Powell; Noah Samora, CEO, WorldSpace Inc; Dr. Cecile Barker and Lt. Gen. Emmitt Paige of OAO Corp; Greg Pratt, CEO of OAO Technologies; Dr. Samuel Metters of Metters Industries; Dr. Maurice Tose, TeleCommunications Systems Inc.; Rodney Hunt, CEO of RSIS Technologies; Angela Mason, CEO, ITS Services; Dr. Philip Emeagwali of emeagwali.com; Emmitt McHenry, CEO of Netcom Solutions; Lori Perine, CEO of Interpretech; Tyrone Taborn, CEO of Career Communications Group; and Anita Brown of Black Geeks Online.
Ten selectees are from California, heart of the technology boom. John W. Thompson, CEO, Symantec; Houston Williams, CEO, Pacific Network Supply; Roy Clay, CEO, Rod-L; Michael Fields, CEO, The Fields Group; LeBaron Woodyard, California Community Colleges; Mike Beasley, MESA; Dixie Garr, vice president, Cisco; Eric Kelly, Maxtor; Dr. Ron Goldsberry, CEO, Carstation; and finance expert Virginia Walker.
Five hail from New York; Parsons, Cooper Union President Dr. George Campbell; Dr. John Slaughter, president of NACME; Dr. Shirley Jackson, president of Renassalaer Polytechnic and Dr. Mark Dean, IBM.
Four are from Massachusetts: Al Zollar, CEO, Lotus Development/IBM; Dorothy Terrell, COO, Natural Microsystems; Dr. Bryant York, Northeastern University; and Dr. Philip Clay, MIT.
Four hail from Texas: Robert Knowling, CEO, Internet Access Corp; Vincent Smith, CEO, CyNet Yvonne Jackson, senior vice president, Compaq Computer; and Thurmond Woodard, vice president, Dell Computer.
Three are from the Chicago area: Stan Washington, technology director, McDonalds; Gale Sayers, CEO, Sayers; Barry Cooper, CEO, Black Voices.
Two each are from Philadelphia and Greensboro, NC: Earl Pace Jr., CEO of Pace Data Systems and John H. Thompson of lingoworks.com; and John Taylor, CEO of Cinerge' and Carter Bing of N.C. A&T State University.
Along with Johnson, Dr. Dhyana Ziegler, assistant vice president for instructional technology at Florida A&M University, hails from Florida.
blackmoney.com and souloftechnology.net are operated by San Francisco-based Electron Access Inc., a content aggregator of educational, news and business information founded by Templeton in 1988. The company's books, web sites and software are regarded as sources of expertise on African-American utilization of technology.
this list is selected by the editors of blackmoney.com and souloftechnology.net based on the enduring impact of the selectees on society both as business leaders and through their policy and volunteer activities
Pinnacle Award winner Richard Parsons, co-COO, AOL Time Warner, New York City. Parsons is part of the leadership team for the largest aggregation of content and distribution merging entertainment and online enterprises ranging from CNN to the 30-million subscriber America Online. He is also an active participant in the redevelopment of Harlem and the Apollo Theatre, and a board member of Howard University. AOL Time Warner has recently created a $100 million venture fund for minority and women-owned ventures.
Gen. Lester Lyles, Commander, U.S. Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH Gen. Lyles is the procurement agent for the most technologically-advanced military force in human history as head of the Material Command, which develops and acquires the tools used by the Air Force. He was most recently vice chief of staff, following a stint as commander of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. He is an engineering graduate of Howard University. He is typical of the more than 400,000 African-Americans serving in the U.S. military, which has been the primary route for technical training for blacks.
Michael Powell, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. Chief regulator for the convergence of telephones, television, cable, wireless and as-yet-unforeseen communication technologies. The son of Secretary of State Colin Powell, the 38-year-old lawyer was first appointed to the commission under President Clinton before President Bush named him chairman.
Noah Samora, CEO, WorldSpace Inc. Washington, D.C. International satellite broadcaster has developed pacesetting technology for direct broadcast to wind-up digital radios and has launched three satellites in 2000 serving Africa, the Caribbean and Asia. Operates a foundation to foster distance learning on the African continent.
Al Zollar, CEO, Lotus Development Corp, a subsidiary of IBM Corp. Boston, MA Zollar was a California-born math prodigy who began working for IBM after graduating from the University of California 30 years ago and has been placed in progressively responsible assignments. As head of the signature software maker, Lotus, he has integrated its operations with IBM's extensive programming offerings.
John W. Thompson, CEO, Symantec Corp. Cupertino, CA Former head of IBM Americas after 30 years with Big Blue took over this manufacturer of anti-virus software and transformed it into a developer of computer security with a doubling of revenues in less than three years. He is a graduate of Florida A&M University.
David Steward, CEO, World Wide Technology, St. Louis, MO. Founded this computer distributor in 1990 with less than a half million in sales. Reached $800 million in revenues by 2000 and became the first technology company to top Black Enterprise's Top 100 list.
Cecile Barker, CEO, OAO Corp. Greenbelt, MD. Dr. Barker first gained fame as head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Orbiting Astronomical Observatory and used the same initials to found the company, a major contractor to defense, intelligence and other government agencies.
Lt. Gen. (ret.) Emmitt Paige, COO, OAO Corp. Greenbelt, MD. Gen. Paige was deputy assistant secretary of defense for command, control, communications and intelligence for the Pentagon in the 1980s and helped develop the technological infrastructure for the armed forces. Upon retirement, he took the operating reins of OAO Corp.
Houston Williams, CEO, Pacific Network Supply, San Jose, CA. Williams has built a company of more than a half billion in sales by supplying the fast-growing market for telecommunications equipment. He created an innovative alliance with Native American and Hispanic firms.
Roy Clay Sr., CEO, Rod-L Electronics, Menlo Park, CA "The godfather of black Silicon Valley," Clay was told in 1955 by McDonnell Aircraft there were "no jobs for professional Negroes" despite his math degree from Washington University. A year later, he was its first computer programmer. By 1965, he was research and development director for Hewlett-Packard's new computer division and created a family tree of black computer standouts. As a consultant to venture funds, he "greenlighted" the initial investments to Intel, Compaq and Tandem. In the early 1970s, he began Rod-L, which makes the hi pottesters that check all consumer electronic equipment for electrical shorts. Clay hires non-college graduates from nearby East Palo Alto to staff his factory to make the point about the underused capabilities in America's inner cities.
Robert Knowling, CEO, Internet Access Corp. Houston. Knowling also serves on the boards of Hewlett Packard and Heidrick and Struggles. He was formerly CEO of Covad Communications and a top executive at US West.
Dr. Samuel Metters, CEO, Metters Industries, McLean, VA The diverse enterprises of Metters include U.S. Black Online, the largest black-owned Internet service provider, systems integration, document management. Dr.Metters began as a scientist and engineer developing defense applications before launching his own firm.
Michael Fields, CEO, The Fields Group, Oakland, CA Fields is a former military veteran who rose to become president of Oracle USA. He gained the largest venture award to that time ($25 million) to start Open Vision, which he took public. Now Fields has purchased and equipped an office building in downtown Oakland where he incubates five minority-owned technology companies.
Greg Pratt, CEO, OAO Technologies, Greenbelt, MD Pratt was an early pioneer in the personal computer age as president of Atari. Now as head of OAO spin-off, OAO Technologies, Pratt has guided the publicly-traded firm through the minefields of the dot-com era to achieve more than $200 million in sales with more than 2,000 employees. It is a bidder for such contracts as the outsourcing deal for the National Security Agency.
Maurice Tose, CEO, TeleCommunications Systems, Annapolis, MD. Through acquisitions and innovations, Tose has built a critically important company in the wireless infrastructure business. One of his products allows wireless devices to be used for e-commerce.
Frederick Green, CEO, Ault Inc., Minneapolis, MN Hunt's firm makes power supplies for the universe of shrinking communications devices ranging from modems to DSL and cable interfaces. It is publicly traded.
Dorothy Terrell, COO, Natural Microsystems Inc. Boston, MA Terrell was the first black woman to manage a computer factory for Digital Equipment in the 1980s and later was a divisional vice president for Sun Microsystems. She is the chief operating officer for this Massachusetts technology firm.
Rodney Hunt, CEO, RSIS Technology Inc., McLean, VA Hunt has been selected as top entrepreneur in the D.C. area and given an award as a top supplier by the U.S. Air Force. RSIS is a fast-growing system integrator.
Vincent Smith, CEO, CyNet Inc. Houston, TX CyNet has built strategic alliances with major computer companies like Compaq to enhance the capabilities of wireless products and web sites. It conducted its initial public offering in 2000.
Dr. John Slaughter, President, National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) New York City Former director of National Science Foundation director and Occidental College president took the reins of the 25-year-old organization that funds fully ten percent of all underrepresented minority students in engineering. Also operates Vanguard Scholars program in high schools to prepare students and Math is Power advertising campaign.
Dr. Shirley Jackson, President, Renassalaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester, NY Physicist headed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission before tapped to lead prestigious engineering school. Continues to work to bring women and underrepresented minorities into science and engineering.
Dr. George Campbell, President, Cooper Union, New York City. Campbell led NACME for 10 years of unprecedented growth, then took leadership of venerable engineering school. The physicist worked at Bell Labs before turning to education.
LeBaron Woodyard, dean of instructional technology, California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, Sacramento, CA Woodyard manages technology for the 1.6 million student, 106-campus California community college system, the world's largest system of higher education. He developed and gained funding for the 4C-Net distance learning network which will eventually allow students to take classes from any campus.
Julia Johnson, vice president, MilCom Inc., Orlando, FL. Johnson heads the Governor's Task Force on Information Technology in Florida after serving two years as head of the Public Service Commission. She runs marketing programs for this provider of technology for defense applications.
Mike Beasley, Chair, Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement, University of California, Morgan Hill, CA Last year's Pinnacle Award winner spent 30 years with IBM including the last eight as CEO of the intrapreneural unit, Icing Software. As chair of MESA, he pushes for support for the program that serves 25,000 youth yearly from elementary to college to promote engineering and science careers.
Dr. Bryant York, Research Director, Institute for African-American E-Culture, Northeastern University, Boston, MA Supercomputer researcher York has won a three-year National Science Foundation grant to analyze how technology can enhance all facets of African-American society.
Barry Cooper, CEO, Black Voices Inc. Chicago, IL. Cooper started an online community as a sideline while a reporter for the Orlando Sentinel which grew to become the most visited site of all the Tribune properties. Black Voices has become one of the most visited destinations among blacks online.
Angela Mason, CEO, ITS Services, McLean, VA Mason's firm is one of the growing firms in the Washington, D.C. area that has built a solid reputation as a supplier to government clients including the Treasury Department and a new contract with the U.S. Census Bureau.
Dr. Philip Emeagwali, emeagwali.com. Baltimore, MD The first individual winner of the Gordon Bell Prize of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Emeagwali created the fastest computation ever by using 55,000 different processors instead of a supercomputer. It was an early demonstration of the promise of the Internet. Now his site provides science learning and motivation for more than 150,000 students who visit weekly. Although forced to drop out in the eighth grade by the Biafran war in his native Nigeria, Emeagwali gained his doctorate in computer science.
Yvonne Jackson, senior vice president for human resources, Compaq Computer Corp. Houston. Former vice president for human resources at Burger King, Jackson took charge of the personnel function for the largest maker of personal computers.
Dixie Garr, vice president for customer quality assurance, Cisco Systems Inc., San Jose. Grambling graduate spent her early career at Hughes and Texas Instruments, where she helped develop the black employee affinity group. She is a strong advocate for historically-black colleges and opportunities for their graduates.
Stan Washington, technology director, McDonalds, Downers Grove, IL Washington manages technology for the largest fast food chain in the world.
Eric Kelly, president, Network Systems Group, Maxtor Corp. San Jose. Just assumed new post after serving as chief operating officer of iSyndicate. Had earlier been a vice president of Dell Computer.
Dr. Philip Clay, chancellor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA Former head of urban studies at MIT, he is a specialist in housing. He led the institute's task force on diversity and now is the second-ranking official at this premiere source of technology talent.
Emmitt McHenry, CEO, Netcom Solutions Inc. Fairfax, VA. Supplier of equipment and system integration to major federal agencies with more than $50 million in sales.
Lori Perine, CEO Interpretech Inc. Rockville, MD. Perine was deputy to the associate director of the White House Office of Science and Technology, where she helped develop policies to overcome the digital divide. This firm directs venture capital and management towards minority and women-owned firms.
Dr. Mark Dean, vice president, IBM, Yorktown, NY. Dean was part of the team that developed the IBM PC in Boca Raton, FL exactly 20 years ago. He continues to develop cutting edge applications for IBM from the Yorktown laboratory.
John H. Thompson, lingoworks.com. Bala Cynwyd, PA Thompson developed Lingo, the programming language that drives the interactivity of 90 percent of video games and web sites. The MIT graduate grew up in Harlem where he began playing with computers in high schools. As principal engineer at MacroMedia for more than a decade, he used Lingo for programs like Shockwave, Flash and Director
Carter Bing, technology specialist, School of Engineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC. From his roost inside A&T, Bing created The Drum, which became a widespread online network linking black professionals across the nation. He also uses satellites, videoconferencing and other technologies to enhance the learning experience for one of the largest producers of black engineers.
Earl Pace Jr. CEO Pace Data Systems. Philadelphia For 25 years, has operated computer outsourcing and technology development for the banking industry. Was a co-founder of Black Data Processing Associates-Information Technology Thought Leaders.
Tyrone Taborn CEO Career Communications Group, Baltimore. As founder of Black Engineer and Hispanic Engineer, has raised the profile of underrepresented groups. Holds the annual Black Engineer of the Year awards and launched an annual campaign to increase online usage among black families.
Thurmond Woodard, vice president of global diversity, Dell Computer, Round Rock, TX. Former executive of American Institute for Managing Diversity selected to fill the highest post yet created in the computer industry to promote diverse employees, customers and suppliers
Gale Sayers, CEO, Sayers, Chicago, IL Hall of Fame NFL running back moved from athletics to technology with this technology equipment distribution firm.
Dr. Ron Goldsberry, CEO Carstation.com San Francisco Former Ford Motor Co. executive took over b2b startup designed to simplify acquisition of parts among insurers, repairers and manufacturers.
Anita Brown, Black Geeks Online, Washington, D.C. Affectionately known as "MissDC", Anita Brown has been a tireless evangelist for African-American online participation, helping to foster a five-fold growth in the late 1990s.
Preston Edwards Sr., imdiversity.com New Orleans Edwards founded Black Collegian 30 years ago as the first magazine serving black college students. With imdiversity.com, has collected the largest online supply of resumes from professional black students and alumni.
John Taylor, CEO, Cinerge' Greensboro, NC Taylor's firm is a leading developer of ebusiness software applications. It has been selected as a top innovator in the Comdex computer trade show.
Dr. Dhyana Ziegler, assistant vice president for instructional technology, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL. Dr. Ziegler has won a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation to create an educational network at Florida A&M. She was previously a professor at the University of Tennessee.
Virginia Walker, consultant, San Jose, CA Walker has served as chief financial officer of five venture funded firms that have successfully gone public.The last was Sagent Technologies. She was the first black woman to be among the 100 highest paid executives in Silicon Valley.