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IT Hall of Fame Opens Doors to Three New MembersDOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Feb. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Technology innovators who helped make wireless computing and database management possible and a pioneer in franchising for the computer reseller market are the newest members of the IT Hall of Fame. The announcement was made today by CompTIA, the non-profit trade association for the information technology (IT) industry. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130107/DC38135LOGO) This year's inductees are Victor Hayes, the "Father of Wi-Fi", dBASE designer C. Wayne Ratliff and Jim Ciccarelli, who helped transform the IT reseller franchise model. All three men will be honored during the CompTIA Annual Member Meeting March 12-13 in Chicago. The IT Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions or provided outstanding service to the IT channel; and individuals responsible for outstanding technology innovations. Victor Hayes played a leading role in shepherding the development of the Wi-Fi technology used in millions of wireless networks in homes and offices around the world. He led the IEEE 802.11 Standards Working Group for Wireless Local Area Networks, which established the basis for Wi-Fi. Subsequently Hayes shepherded the computer industry into proper representation in regional and international spectrum management through the Wi-Fi Alliance. C. Wayne Ratliff designed and wrote the Vulcan Database Management Program while working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1978. This program became known as Ashton-Tate's dBASE, the first widely used database management software for the personal computer. dBASE is considered one of the "big three" early software products along with WordPerfect's word-processor and Lotus Development's 1-2-3 spreadsheet. Jim Ciccarelli founded Connecting Point of America, which pioneered a new franchise model within the computer retail industry. Ciccarelli was the chief executive officer of the company, which became a billion-dollar reseller and distribution organization. His new business model gave small and medium-sized resellers more buying clout with some of the biggest high-tech vendors. Many independent companies still bear the Connecting Point name to this day. The three inductees were chosen by the IT Hall of Fame Selection Committee from a pool of nominees. This year's judges included Jane Cage, chief operating officer, Heartland Technology Solutions; Timothy J. Curran, chief executive officer, Global Technology Distribution Council; Robert O'Malley, president and chief executive officer, SED International; Joe Panettieri, executive vice president and editorial director, Nine Lives Media Inc.; and Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA. The complete roster of IT Hall of Fame inductees is available here. About CompTIA CompTIA is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. Visit http://www.comptia.org/home.aspx or follow CompTIA at http://www.facebook.com/CompTIA and twitter.com/comptia. SOURCE CompTIA http://rt.prnewswire.com/rt.gif NewsItemId=DC64907&Transmission_Id=201302251030PR_NEWS_USPR_____DC64907&DateId=20130225 |
