Formed in 2004
Riverside Technology CEO Forum was formed in 2004 when several members of the high technology community in Riverside approached Satish Tripathi, the then Dean of Bourns College of Engineering at University of California, Riverside to form a network of intelligent resources, collaborating and supporting Riverside Technology companies.
The Founding Fathers
The founding fathers of RTCF were high technology executives in Riverside: William Saito of IO Software, Sundip R. Doshi of Surado Solutions, Inc., Amro Albanna of Qmotions, Shaun Hammer of Fata Hunter and Brian Hawley of Luminex.
In Collaboration with University of California, Riverside
Facalitated by Dean Tripathi, RTCF had their first meeting at Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE), UCR. Today, RTCF continues to have its monthly meetings at BCOE. BCOE was the first and most significant collaborator to the success of RTCF.
The Formative Years: 2004-2006
Early objectives of RTCF was to advance High Technology Business Environment for companies through collaboration with each other, University and City/Community.
During these early years, Accomplishments included:
- Meeting with Mayor Ronald Loveridge
- Guiding Principles were adopted
- RTCF's first website was launched
- Coordination with High Technology Task Force (HTTF) and its recommendations
- Monthly Meetings at UCR Bourns College of Engineering
- Formation of Working Groups with specific goals
- Election of Brian Hawley of Luminex as RTCFs first Chairperson
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Initial Membership
By 2006, RTCF membership group grew to include Gordon Bourns of Bourns, Rajan Kasetty of Infotech Software, Agenor Neto-Mafra of ISCA Technologies. These groups of technologly leaders and the intial founders dedicated time and effort to build a foundation of guiding principles on which RTCF continues to build on.
Meetings were held on the first Monday of every month at Bourns College of Engineering at UCR.
RTCF Open House - September, 2007
Under the leadership of Chairman Brian Hawley, RTCF had its first Open House in September 2007 at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California. The event attracted local high technology companies as well as collaborators including Bourns College of Engineering-UCR, City of Riverside, RCC/Tri-Tech, CNAS-UCR, AGSM-UCR, OTC-UCR and Tech Coast Angels. By this time, there were more than 14 member companies from the initial 4 member companies that started RTCF. The event showcased the dedication, reach and accomplishments of RTCF.
Making a Difference
2007 through 2008 continued to be important years as the working groups were clearly making a difference in the local community as more and more programs continued to take shape and impact the region. Success included sponsorship of local events, mentoring of students, presentations by members, professors and guests, business and social networking and attracting funding sources including Tech Coast Angels.
In August of 2008, Sundip R. Doshi, CEO of Surado Solutions, Inc., and Chair-Elect, was elected as the new Chairpman of RTCF as Brian Hawley of Luminex step down after serving for more than 2 years.
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