Executives from SAS, Grant Thornton and Epic Games to Present Keynotes at NCTA’s 2009 A CEO Conversation
Posted: 03-23-2009 : RALEIGH, N.C.

Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA), the primary voice of the technology industry in North Carolina, announced today that Dr. Jim Goodnight, CEO of SAS Institute, Ed Nusbaum, CEO of Grant Thornton and Dr. Michael Capps, president of Epic Games will be the keynote speakers for A CEO Conversation. The theme for this year’s event is “Game Changers: Leaders Making a Difference.” A CEO Conversation will be held Wednesday, April 8 from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Imperial in Durham.

“In keeping with the theme ‘Game Changers: Leaders Making a Difference’, we are pleased to offer true game changers as speakers for this year’s A CEO Conversation,” said Brooks Raiford, NCTA president and CEO. “These individuals are proven leaders in their industries, and are ideal for presenting their thoughts on using technology and innovation to succeed in today’s economic climate.”

Dr. Jim Goodnight, CEO, SAS Institute
Jim Goodnight is co-founder and CEO of SAS, a worldwide leader in business analytics. In 2008, the company’s revenue was $2.26 billion, its 33rd consecutive year of growth and profitability. A vocal proponent of education and innovation, HarvardBusinessSchool named him as one of the “20th Century’s Great American Business Leaders,” citing his impact on “the way people have lived, worked and interacted in the 20th century.”

Ed Nusbaum, CEO, Grant Thornton LLP
Ed Nusbaum is CEO and executive partner of Grant Thornton. With more than 500 partners and nearly 6,000 U.S. employees, Grant Thornton LLP provides audit, tax and advisory services. Nusbaum has spent 30 years with Grant Thornton, and under his leadership, the company has tripled revenues to approximately $1.2 billion. Nusbaum is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences, and has authored numerous articles.

Dr. Michael Capps, President, Epic Games
Dr. Michael Capps is the president of Epic Games, Inc. based in Cary, NC. Epic is the creator of the award-winning “Unreal” and “Unreal Tournament” series, the 2006 Game of the Year “Gears of War,” and the highly acclaimed “Gears of War 2.” Prior to entering the game industry, Capps served as a professor at the NavalPostgraduateSchool in Monterey, Calif.

This year’s A CEO Conversation will also include an Entrepreneurial Panel, featuring Troy Tolle, CTO of Digital Chalk, Joe Lee, COO of PetroBeam and Keith Luedeman, CEO of goodmorgage.com.

For more information or to register for A CEO Conversation, please visit www.nctechnology.org, or contact Jennifer Bosser at jbosser@nctechnology.org or 919-856-0393 ext. 227.

About NCTA
The North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA) is a not-for-profit, membership-driven trade association and the primary voice of the technology industry in North Carolina. NCTA is the intersection of leadership and technology, fueling the growth of North Carolina through Executive Engagement, Public Affairs, and a Knowledge Workforce. For more information, visit our website at www.nctechnology.org.