FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2012    

PIONEERING PHYSICIAN-INVENTOR FORREST BIRD, SOFTWARE ANALYTICS VISIONARY BOB LOKKEN TO BE INDUCTED INTO IDAHO TECH HALL OF FAME

Idaho Technology Council Event Features
 2012 Idaho Innovation Awards Presented by Stoel Rives and Kickstand

BOISE, Idaho -- Innovators who turned ideas into products and companies that changed people's lives worldwide – physician-inventor Dr. Forrest Bird and software analytics visionary  Bob Lokken -- will be inducted into the Idaho Technology Council Hall of Fame on Oct. 2 at Boise Centre on the Grove.

The induction of Bird and Lokken will be the centerpiece of a special event in its third year – the ITC Hall of Fame Celebration Featuring the Idaho Innovation Awards Presented by Stoel Rives and Kickstand. The Idaho Statesman, the leading newspaper serving the Boise, Idaho metropolitan area, is the print media sponsor for this event.  

Tickets are $85 for ITC members or $125 for non-members.  Tickets are available at http://www.idahotechcouncil.org/itc-hall-of-fame-2012. 

“It’s accurate to say that millions of lives have been saved through the innovative genius of Dr. Forrest Bird and that millions of dollars in cost savings have been realized by businesses from the technology-based analytics of Bob Lokken,” said Jay Larsen, President and Founder of the Idaho Technology Council.  “The innovations of these two Idahoans have made a worldwide impact.  We are privileged to elevate them at this year’s Hall of Fame celebration.”

Dr. Bird and Lokken join an Idaho Technology Council Hall of Fame that already includes Hewlett-Packard icons Dick Hackborn and Ray Smelek, global engineering chief executive Jack Lemley and serial entrepreneur Steve Hodges.

Bird created a legacy of innovation through his work pioneering the modern-day medical respirator. First introduced in 1955, his device was the first highly reliable, low-cost, mass-produced respirator in the world, thus saving millions of lives.  Dr. Bird is known as the Father of the Respiratory Industry. Without a respirator, heart, lung, and kidney transplants could not take place, making Bird’s invention a breakthrough in medical history. He subsequently created a ventilator for infants, nicknamed the “Babybird,” which is credited for playing a significant role in reducing the rate of breathing-related infant mortality from 70% to 10%. Bird still plays an active role in working on medical devices to help people worldwide.

Bird has received prestigious honors for innovation, which includes receiving the Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award and being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Bird has also received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President George Bush and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Barrack Obama.

For Bob Lokken, his legacy has left a deep and far-reaching impact in Idaho’s software and business community. Lokken is the CEO and founder of WhiteCloud Analytics [http://www.whitecloudanalytics.com], an Idaho-based software/consulting company that helps provide decision support for hospitals. Lokken previously founded ProClarity Corp., which won more than 40 industry awards for analytic and performance management technologies. In 2006, ProClarity was acquired by Microsoft and the business intelligence software created by Lokken’s team of innovators are some of the key features of Microsoft’s Office 2010 suite.

Prior to that Lokken has served in many leadership roles in the software industry, most notably at Extended Systems, Incorporated (ESI) (Nasdaq-XTND). As an early employee of Extended System’s, he held numerous positions in Research and Development management, directed the Information Systems department, and created the companies Advantage Software division, which today continues to prosper in Idaho as part of Sybase Corp. At Microsoft, Lokken led the team responsible for the commercial strategies for Microsoft’s business intelligence offerings.

Lokken is active in Idaho’s community, serving on a variety boards focused on education and economic development. Specifically of note, Lokken serves as Chairman in the Education Alliance of Idaho, an association of key stakeholders in the Idaho education system, and as the Vice Chair of Idaho Business’s for Education (the IBE, formally known as the IBCEE). Lokken holds several database technology patents, has won numerous industry awards, and is a frequent keynote speaker at business schools, civic events, and industry conferences. Lokken also serves as a member of the ITC’s Executive Committee and his reluctance to be inducted was overcome by the consensus of ITC members.

###

Contact:

Jay Larsen, Idaho Technology Council. (208) 608-0211. jlarsen@idahotechcouncil.org www.idahotechcouncil.org

Scott Peyron, Scott Peyron & Associates. (208) 388-3800. speyron@peyron.com www.peyron.com

About Idaho Technology Council (www.idahotechcouncil.org): The Idaho Technology Council's mission is to become the premier member-driven technology association dedicated to fostering the growth of technology companies in the state of Idaho, primarily in the areas of information technology, agriscience, and energy. The ITC provides a valuable forum for industry, research, educators, investors, and government throughout the state. It also advocates for creating a strong technology ecosystem and a high quality, high paid workforce. For more information visit www.idahotechcouncil.org.