INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

JIM GOODNIGHT

CEO | SAS Institute

Cary

North Carolina's best-known tech executive isn't slowing down after 47 years of leading one of the state's most consistently successful businesses. The Salisbury native, who turned 80 in January, continues to work toward an IPO for Cary-based SAS Institute in 2024. Plans call for offering about 15% of company shares to the public. SAS has reported an annual profit every year since its inception in 1976.

Taking the company public, Goodnight has said, will better allow employees and customers to share in the company's success, while also attracting new talent. The data management, analytics and Al company employs more than 12,000 people and reported $3.2 billion in 2022 revenue.

Over his career, Goodnight and his wife Ann, have championed education. He has endowed several professorships at N.C. State University, where he earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in mathematics and worked as a professor from 1972 to 1976. Ann Goodnight has been an N.C. State trustee since 2015.

In 1997, the Goodnights and SAS co-founders John and Ginger Sail opened Cary Academy, a college preparatory day school with grades six through 12.

Favorite N.C. place to visit: The Boone and Blowing Rock areas, as well as Wrightsville Beach. I always recommend visiting the N.C. Museum of Art, taking in an N.C. State basketball game at the PNC Arena or a football game at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Major inspiration: At the most basic level, we exist in order to help others. We're here so that our customers are not alone in the battle to solve tough problems. Our purpose is to make analytics easy and friendly for them. We exist for all the folks who are working to make their corner of the world a better place--whether that corner is a bank, a hospital, a store; ora nonprofit, or a university, or a government. Without us, their road would be harder.

Career highlight: I'm very proud of being a pioneer of workplace culture, based on my belief that if you treat employees like they make a difference they will make a difference. A highlight for me was having SAS recognized as the top workplace in the U.S. by Fortune magazine, and as the top workplace in the world by the Great Place to Work Institute.

Best advice to industry newcomer: Recognize when to stop digging a hole. Sometimes things don't go as planned and it's OK to walkaway. Let go of your pride or investment if a product or venture isn't succeeding.

Key industry change in next five years: Disruption will continue to challenge us, but it will also help drive innovation. Advancements across areas like conversational AI, natural language processing, predictive modeling, and computer vision help organizations be prepared for whatever is next.

SPENCER BAIRD

CEO | Inmar Intelligence

Winston-Salem

He was named to the top post last September after getting the interim role earlier in 2022 following the retirement of David Mounts. The Virginia Wesleyan University graduate joined the company in 2020 after having leadership roles with food-industry companies including Dannon, Kellogg and Ahold.

JUD BOWMAN

CEO, founder | Sift Media

Durham

He formed his first company, Motricity, while attending the N.C. School of Math and Science, then later left Stanford University early to help the smartphone-app company grow to $100 million in annual revenue. Sift is the third startup for Bowman, 41. The company uses data from phone apps to help businesses target ads.

Favorite N.C. place to visit: A tie between the beach and the mountains. We love Bald Head Island, where my wife and I were married. We also love visiting Roaring Gap in the mountains.

What do you listen to on your commute: "Symphony Hall" on SiriusXM Channel 76

Career highlight: Selling my last company, Appia, to Digital Turbine in 2015.

Favorite hobby after work: Giving my two daughters, Edith and Graylyn, big hugs.

JOHN BRADFORD

CEO | PetScreening

Huntersville

The Clemson engineering graduate is founder and CEO of two start-up companies. Park Avenue Properties is a residential management firm. PetScreening helps property owners develop pet policies. The Republican is in his fourth term in the N.C. House and has said he may run for state treasurer.

MICHAEL CAPPS

CEO | Diveplane

Raleigh

A former top Epic Games executive, Capps started his artificial intelligence firm in 2018. His expertise leads to frequent appearances on Discovery, Military, and Science channels. The company raised $25 million last fall, including investments from soccer stars Mia Hamm...