Portland, Ore. – April 13, 2017 – The Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) announced today the selection of Tinker Hatfield as the recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award for 2017. Hatfield will be recognized as part of the Oregon Technology Awards ceremony on May 11th, now in its 33rd year, which celebrates excellence and achievement within the region’s vibrant technology community.
Hatfield serves as Vice President of Design & Creative Concepts at Nike, Inc., where he has spent over three decades designing many of the company’s most recognized products, including the Air Jordan and Air Max product lines. An Oregon native, Hatfield has leveraged his experiences at the University of Oregon as a distinguished college athlete and architecture student to revolutionize the athletic industry.
He also has created product lines in collaboration with athletes such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Roger Federer. News organizations around the world have recognized his business accomplishments and featured his work. Most recently, Hatfield’s created the HyperAdapt 1.0., Nike’s first performance vehicle for adaptive lacing. The shoe translated deep research into digital, electrical and mechanical engineering into a product designed for movement. It was inspired by the famous ‘power lacing’ scene in the movie “Back to the Future II.”
“It’s an honor to be recognized by TAO, who are supporting Oregon’s growth as a technology hub,” said Hatfield. “Nike has always pursued new solutions and technologies to provide better products for athletes, and we’re proud to support innovation in our home state.”
“The Technology Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes excellence in industry leadership as well as an individual’s positive impact in the greater Oregon community,” said Skip Newberry, TAO President and CEO. “We are thrilled to recognize Tinker for his work in marrying design and cutting-edge technology to develop continuously innovative footwear products for Nike, helping Nike to grow into the global powerhouse it is today.”
The 2017 Oregon Technology Awards Program is presented by JLL and UnitedHealthcare. This year marks its 33rd year, and TAO anticipates drawing more than 600 attendees, including entrepreneurs and tech professionals from across the region and around the globe. Help us celebrate our 2017 recipients at the Oregon Technology Awards Ceremony on May 11th at the Oregon Convention Center – purchase tickets here!
About TAO: TAO is a local nonprofit working to build opportunities, better our economy and unify a voice for innovation in Oregon and beyond. A recognized leader in shaping and growing technology and business communities, TAO empowers businesses and entrepreneurs through networks, events, advocacy, resources and more. With over 425 member-companies, TAO’s network brings together some of the largest companies in the world, small startups, and tech-enabled companies that are using technology to drive growth and innovation. For more information please visit www.techoregon.org.
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