BOZEMAN, MONT. (October 13, 2003) – The founder and CEO of RightNow Technologies (Company
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Studies), the world’s leading provider of hosted customer service and support solutions, has received Stevens Institute of Technology’s Stevens Honor
Award. Greg Gianforte received the award in recognition of his outstanding record of achievement since his graduation in 1983.
The Stevens Honor Award has been presented annually since 1945 to alumni whose professional accomplishments have been judged noteworthy by the Institute and its
Alumni Association. The award was presented Oct. 11 at the Institute’s Alumni Banquet on campus.
"We are proud and privileged to honor Greg as one of our illustrious alumni leaders,” said Dr. Harold J. Raveché, President of Stevens Institute of Technology.
“Greg embodies the kind of outstanding leadership we have historically seen in our most accomplished alumni.”
Gianforte founded RightNow Technologies in 1997. The Bozeman, MT, company has achieved 18 consecutive quarters of growth. Gianforte has also been
recently honored with an Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” award and CRM Magazine’s “Influential Leaders” award.
“Over the past, 20 years, Greg has done a superb job of translating technical innovation into tangible business value,” said Marty P. Valerio, president of the Stevens Alumni
Association. “His successful entrepreneurship is a great example for the current generation of Stevens’ students.”
Gianforte received both a B.E. in electrical engineering and an M.S. in computer science from Stevens. He has remained involved with Stevens through a variety of
programs and committees.
“It is very gratifying to receive such an esteemed award from a prestigious institution like Stevens. Every day, I realize how well Stevens has prepared me to achieve as a
CEO in high technology,” Gianforte said. “Stevens Institute continues to provide young people with a tremendous foundation that enables them to both build their own
careers and make substantial contributions to their chosen professions.”
As RightNow’s chief executive, Gianforte has championed a Web-based hosting model that eliminates the heavy infrastructure costs and hassles associated with
conventional “in-house” software implementations. RightNow’s more than 1,000 customers include British Airways, Fujitsu, Polaroid, Remington, Sanyo, and the
Social Security Administration.
Gianforte’s first start-up was Brightwork Development, which pioneered the LAN management utilities market. Brightwork was sold to McAfee in 1994 and then
retained Gianforte to direct sales operations. During his tenure, McAfee was selected by Fortune Magazine as one of the “10 Coolest Companies in America,” based
primarily on the Internet selling approach Gianforte fostered.
About RightNow Technologies
RightNow Technologies is the leading customer service and support solutions company that radically and rapidly improves the effectiveness of service and support
operations with easy-to-implement/easy-to-use technology, replicable best practices drawn from the industry's broadest base of successful implementations, and
engagement terms that create accountability for delivering quantifiable results.
RightNow has delivered these benefits to more than 1,000 customers worldwide such as: Air New Zealand, Ben & Jerry's, Briggs and Stratton, British Airways, Cisco,
Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Electronic Arts, Pioneer, Raymarine, Remington, Sanyo, Specialized Bicycles, and more than 150 public sector clients including the Social
Security Administration and the State of Florida.
Founded in 1997, RightNow has offices in Bozeman, Dallas, San Mateo, London, and Sydney, with an associated office in Tokyo. RightNow's products are available
in 17 languages worldwide. For further information visit http://www.rightnow.com/.
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