While California gets much of the attention for up-and-coming technology news, Utah’s own “Silicon Slopes” feature many companies making headlines in the tech world.
Greg Butterfield received recognition for his impact on the Utah tech scene as he was inducted into the Utah Technology Council Hall of Fame on 23 October 2009. Myriad Genetics co-founders Peter Meldrum and Mark Skolnick were also inducted in the hall of fame. They join such Utah technology pioneers as television inventor Philo T. Farnsworth; Adobe co-founder John Warnock; and former Dell CEO Kevin Rollins.
“We are privileged to recognize these three remarkable gentlemen for their stellar achievements and the impact they’ve made by improving not only our way of life in Utah but also by improving it throughout the world,” says Richard Nelson, president and CEO of the Utah Technology Council.
Butterfield says the recognition is an acknowledgment of the Utah companies he has worked for, noting that unlike fellow inductees Meldrum and Skolnick, he has not developed new technologies himself. Instead, Butterfield has successfully delivered technology to the world through business as founder and managing partner of SageCreek Partners, a technology consulting firm.
Butterfield’s induction into the UTC Hall of Fame is not the first time he has been recognized for his contributions to technology and the economy. In 2002 he received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, and in 2006 he was invited to the World Economic Forum as a technology pioneer.
Since graduating from BYU in 1985 with a BS in finance, Butterfield has held executive positions in several notable technology firms, including Legato, Novell, and WordPerfect Corporation. He was also a key player in growing Altiris, a software company based out of Lindon, Utah. Altiris later became the first software company to successfully go public after the burst of the IT bubble, a move that Butterfield pushed through despite doubts from many pundits and analysts. However, Butterfield says he views his accomplishments in less tangible terms.
“The thing I am most proud of is that we were able to build a hugely successful business that was recognized worldwide, and we were able to do it based on principles that are complementary to the gospel,” he says. “I believe that if you take care of your employees, if you take care of your customers, and if you take care of your partners, Wall Street takes care of itself.”
The knowledge and experience from running successful companies has translated to his personal life, Butterfield says.
“Leadership principles aren’t tied to your profession; they’re applicable across all aspects of life,” he says. “Whether it’s communication skills, the ability to create a long-term vision and strategy or to surround yourself with the right team that provides strengths to make up for your weaknesses, those same attributes are applicable in life.”
These skills come in handy in Butterfield’s efforts to give back to the community. He is currently vice chairman of Utah Valley University’s board of trustees and is a member of the advisory boards for the United Way and Thanksgiving Point.
“You’ve got an obligation to give back,” Butterfield says. “One person can make a difference.”
Butterfield lives with his wife, Shelly, in Alpine, Utah. They have five children.
