Earlier this week, at an awards dinner in downtown San Jose, Dave Hitz, EVP and co-founder of Voce client Network Appliance, was inducted into the CRN Industry Hall of Fame along with some amazing industry leaders including: Carol Bartz, Dr. Alan Kay, Nathan Morton, and Craig Barrett.

Hitz was inducted for developing a disruptive technology, network attached storage - (NAS). Working in conjunction with co-founder James Lau, Hitz helped pioneer the worldwide storage market and changed the strategy for some of the biggest companies in technology, including HP, IBM and EMC.

It was an evening of celebration for these individuals and a milestone in their careers and for the companies and organizations they touch. CRN’s Heather Clancy put it best: “It was a night to honor those who came ahead to prepare those for the future.”

Some memorable quotes from the inductees:

“It is only just beginning, the ability for technology to change the world, to really change the lives of people around the world.” - Carol Bartz

“In Silicon Valley we can create an environment for innovation where people will believe and want to invest in the future.” - Craig Barrett

“If are the smartest person in the room, you might be in the wrong room.” - Dr. Alan Kay

More on the CRN Industry Hall of Fame can be found here.

/JW