Fred Lampropoulos and Josh James to be Inducted into UTC Hall of Fame

Founders of two of Utah’s largest and most successful technology companies will be honored at 2012 UTC Hall of Fame Gala

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Utah Technology Council (UTC) (http://www.utahtech.org) today announced Fred Lampropoulos and Josh James as its 2012 inductees into the UTC Hall of Fame. Lampropoulos and James will be honored at the UTC’s Hall of Fame Celebration on Nov. 30 at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

“Fred and Josh are remarkable technology leaders – not only locally, but also globally”

“Fred and Josh are remarkable technology leaders – not only locally, but also globally,” said Richard R. Nelson, president and CEO of the UTC. “Their success shows how thriving businesses can be started and grown in Utah. Through their leadership, unique company culture and drive, they have created some of the fastest-growing and highest-performing companies in the technology industry.”

2012 Inductees:

Fred Lampropoulos

Fred has been a recognized leader in the medical device industry for more than 30 years. After serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive of Utah Medical, Fred founded Merit Medical Systems, Inc. in 1987, where he currently serves as Chairman and CEO. He has invented and holds almost 200 patents on devices used in the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Since 1987, Merit Medical has grown from a start-up company to a publicly traded company forecasting revenues of approximately $400 million in 2012. The company started in a small manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, and now has manufacturing and distribution capabilities in Salt Lake City and 10 other locations around the world. With approximately 2,700 employees, Merit Medical has achieved a world leadership position in many areas. He is committed to building a company of lasting value that will provide employment for thousands of families for years to come.

Fred is extremely involved in his community and serves on many boards, including the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA). He is committed to building our community by supporting organizations such as the Jr. Jazz, Junior Achievement, KUED and the Boy Scouts of America; supporting the arts, including The Leonardo, the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Tuacahn Center for the Arts, Hale Centre Theatre and Utah Symphony and Opera; and providing benefits and services to the homeless and disadvantaged.

Fred has received numerous awards, including the Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology, honorary doctorate degrees from Westminster College and Salt Lake Community College, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Utah. He was also inducted into the Utah Business Hall of Fame. Fred is an Honorary Colonel in the Utah National Guard, served as an officer in the 19^th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and received the 2011 Bronze Minuteman Award.

Josh James

Josh founded Domo in 2010 to disrupt the $14 billion business intelligence market and change the face of enterprise software. Before Domo, he was the longtime CEO of Omniture, which he co-founded in 1996 and took public in 2006; and from 2006-2009, he was the world’s youngest CEO of a publicly traded company.

Omniture, the first enterprise SaaS/cloud company, was the number one returning venture investment out of 1,008 venture capital investments in 2004, as well as the number two performing technology IPO of 2006. Omniture was also the fastest or second fastest-growing public company globally for three consecutive years. In 2009, Josh facilitated Omniture's $1.8 billion sale to Adobe, which was the biggest M&A transaction in Utah at the time.

Josh serves on the boards of Demand Media, a NYSE-traded company; Rakuten, a publicly traded, $5 billion revenue company that is the leading e-commerce company in Japan; and Save The Children, the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. Josh also serves as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders, a worldwide community of individuals committed to, and recognized for, their proven leadership and potential in shaping the future. In addition, he has served on the board of the Utah Technology Council for more than a decade.

In 2011, Fortune Magazine recognized him as one of its "40 Under 40: Ones to Watch" and, in 2009, as one of its "40 Under 40" top business executives. He was named the 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Brigham Young University's Technology Entrepreneur of the Decade. In 2012, Mountain West Capital Network named Josh its Entrepreneur of the Year.

Josh is the founder of CEO.com, a resource to help founders and CEOs stay up to date with what's happening at the executive level across top industries, as well as stay armed with the latest leadership strategies and best practices. He also founded Silicon Slopes, a non-profit initiative designed to promote the interests of Utah's high-tech industry.

About The UTC Hall of Fame

The annual Hall of Fame event honors individuals with Utah ties who have made global contributions to the information technology, life science and clean tech industries through new technology, innovation and leadership. The gala also headlines keynotes from the world’s great technology companies. Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO of Amazon, will keynote this year’s Hall of Fame Celebration.

The Hall of Fame celebration is the year’s largest gathering of Utah technology executives. UTC invites members of Utah's technology industries, as well as business and community leaders, to join in honoring this year's inductees.

For more information or to register for the Hall of Fame, visit www.utahtech.org or call [phone]. To be an event sponsor, please call or email [e-mail].

About the Utah Technology Council

Utah’s premier professional association, the Utah Technology Council has grown 13 percent a year for the past 10 years, becoming the essential business resource for high-tech, life science and clean-tech companies seeking to achieve greater success. At its core, UTC exists to foster the Growth of the state’s 7,000 technology companies, ensure Utah develops the highest Quality Workforce in the nation and attract an ever-increasing array of Funding. Members join UTC to share insights with industry peers, counsel with government and academic leaders, and receive help from professional service providers and funding resources. For more information on becoming a member of the UTC, please email [e-mail] or call [phone].