Black Chamber of Silicon Valley Affair to Recognize Silicon Valley “Blacks ‘n Business, Blacks ‘n Technology”

Roy Clay, Sr., Ken Coleman, Jerry Lawson, Wayne Sutton

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SVBCC honors African American Silicon Valley pioneers in business and technology:

“Spirit of Excellence Award in Technology”

Roy Clay Sr., Silicon Valley computer engineering pioneer

“Spirit of Excellence Award in Business”

Ken Coleman, Chairman of the Board, Saama Technologies

“Business & Technology Legacy Award”

Jerry Lawson, Co-inventor of modern video game console (posthumous)

“Next Generation of Excellence, Achievement Award”

Wayne Sutton, General Partner, BUILDUP.vc

Known as “The High Tech Motivator,” Marlon Smith—president of Success by Choice, Inc. and award-winning author of “7 Winning Speaker Strategies”—will emcee the celebratory affair. Appropriately, notable Bay Area entrepreneur Carol H. Williams will be the stellar event’s keynote speaker. Williams is president and CEO of Carol H. Williams Advertising Agency—the largest, independent and female owned, African American communications agency in the U.S.

“The Chamber is thrilled to acknowledge African American pioneers and achievers, and their respective contributions and impacts on Silicon Valley,” remarked Carl Davis Jr., president and Executive Director of The Black Chamber of Silicon Valley. “We will recognize a few of the many often-unrecognized engineers, inventors, executives and business developers who have contributed to Silicon Valley becoming the internationally recognized business and technology mecca that it is.

The Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce is grateful to its generous corporate and community sponsors and supporters: Morgan Stanley, Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard, Saama Technologies, Silicon Valley Water District, Union Bank, US Bank, Wells Fargo, Comcast, The New R&B 102.9 KBLX and Comerica Bank.

About The Silicon Valley/Santa Clara County Black Chamber

The Silicon Valley/Santa Clara County Black Chamber was incorporated as a 501(c)(6) in 1988 by founding president and local business person Mr. Ron McPherson, who served as its president for ten years. In 2000, the Chamber created a 501(c)(3), The Silicon Valley Center for Entrepreneurial Development to act as a foundation for its educational projects and it’s Incubator Program.

The Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to create, identify and/or expand economic development opportunities for African Americans and minorities in Silicon Valley.  The SVBCC is an equal opportunity, community service provider to all persons regardless of race, sex, color, age, religion, actual or perceived gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic or national origin, or familial status.