New SAO Board Chairman Calls for Change

By Greg Drew, president and CEO, WebTrends, Inc. and SAO board chairman

At the beginning of 2006, we find ourselves on the edge of a transformation. It’s a time of change for SAO, for Oregon, and for the software industry as a whole. That’s why I’m excited to assume the role of Board Chairman of SAO during this time of transformation and opportunity.

2005 was a year of forward movement for SAO: New leadership, a new corporate image and a renewed commitment to developing Oregon’s software industry, fueled by the rededication to our “Start, Move, Grow” strategy, resulted in many new programs and initiatives. Now it’s time to use that momentum to propel ourselves into the future.

We can get an idea of what that future will look like by looking at everyone’s favorite focus group, the 17- to 34-year old male. They’re playing video games while surfing the Internet and watching television—or Instant Messaging while reading and listening to music.

They’re not consuming media in traditional, linear, one-to-one ways. And they’re not using technology that way, either. TiVo, iPods, blogs, podcasts, RSS… Understanding what people want and how they want it has never been more critical. For the software industry, that means the customer will no longer be a passive consumer of goods and services—they’re in control. They’re not just end users, they’re engaged developers.

The most exciting thing is that Oregon is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this fundamental shift. We can use many local resources to become a technology superpower, including:

• The leveraged strength of powerful industry leaders such as Microsoft
• The possibilities inherent in numerous burgeoning start-ups, as well as organizations such as the Open Source Development Labs
• World-class higher education centers that continue to attract the best and brightest minds

And of course, we also have the ongoing work of the SAO. Join me in bringing the software community together to make 2006 the year of leverage. I look forward to working with all of you to create a new future for Oregon.

About the author

Greg Drew is President and CEO, of WebTrends Inc., the worldwide market leader for web analytics.  A 28-year veteran with fast growing technology companies, Drew was formerly the founder, chairman and CEO for 800 Electronics, where he established the company as the leading full-service electronics e-retailer with revenues in excess of $50 million. Earlier in his career, Drew held positions at Hewlett-Packard, Central Point Software, Clientele Software and NOW Software/Qualcomm. Drew is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickenson University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management.