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James Goodnight

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James Howard Goodnight (born January 6, 1943) is an American billionaire businessman and software developer. He has been the CEO of SAS since 1976, which he co-founded that year with other faculty members of North Carolina State University.[1] As of October 2024, his net worth was estimated at US$15.4 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index making him the richest person in North Carolina.[2]

James Goodnight
Born
James Howard Goodnight

January 6, 1943 (1943-01-06) (age 81)
Salisbury, North Carolina, U.S.
Other namesJim Goodnight
EducationNorth Carolina State University
Occupation(s)Businessman and software developer
TitleCEO, SAS
Term1976–
SpouseAnn Goodnight
Children3

Early life and career

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Goodnight was born to Albert Goodnight and Dorothy Patterson in Salisbury, North Carolina, on January 6, 1943.[3] He lived in Greensboro until he was 12, when his family moved to Wilmington. As a kid he worked at his father's hardware store.[4][5]

Goodnight's career with computers began with a computer course at North Carolina State University. One summer he got a job writing software programs for the agricultural economics department.[6] Goodnight was a member of the Beta-Beta chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon at NC State, and contributed to the construction of a new fraternity house for the chapter in 2002.[7]

Goodnight received a master's degree in statistics in 1968.[4] He also worked at a company building electronic equipment for the ground stations that communicated with the Apollo space capsules.[8][9] While working on the Apollo program, Goodnight experienced a work environment with a high turnover rate and this shaped his views on corporate culture.[9][10] Goodnight returned to North Carolina State University after working on the Apollo project, where he earned a PhD in statistics and was a faculty member from 1972 to 1976.[6]

Career

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Main article: SAS Institute

Goodnight joined another faculty member at North Carolina State in a research project to create a general purpose statistical analysis system (the original meaning of the name SAS) for analyzing agricultural data.[11] The project was operated by a consortium of eight land-grant universities and funded primarily by the USDA. Goodnight along with fellow faculty member Anthony James Barr became project leaders for the development of the early version of SAS.[12] When the software had 100 customers in 1976, Goodnight and three others from the University left the college to form SAS Institute[13][14] in an office across the street.[6]

Goodnight has remained CEO of SAS Institute for more than 45 years as the company grew from $138,000 in its first year in business, to $420 million in 1993 and $3.2 billion in 2022.[15] Under his leadership, the company experienced continuous growth,[16] becoming one of the largest privately held software providers in the world.[17] Goodnight became known for creating and promoting SAS' corporate culture,[18] often described by the media as "utopian."[10][19] He rejected acquisition offers and chose not to take SAS public to protect the company's work environment.[3] Goodnight has maintained a flat and flexible organizational structure at the company.[20][21]

 
Goodnight at the World Economic Forum in Cologny, Geneva.

HSM Global described Goodnight's leadership style in a framework of three pillars: "help employees do their best work by keeping them intellectually challenged and by removing distractions; make managers responsible for sparking creativity; eliminate arbitrary distinctions between 'suits' and 'creatives'; engage customers as creative partners to help deliver superior products."[22]

In 1981, Goodnight was elected as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association.[23] Goodnight has been called the "Godfather of AI" for his role in the creation of SAS.[24]

In 1997, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[25] In 2004, he was named a Great American Business Leader by Harvard Business School.[26][27] That same year he was named one of America's 25 Most Fascinating Entrepreneurs by Inc. Magazine.[28] He has also been a frequent speaker and participant at the World Economic Forum.[6] In March 2020, Jim Goodnight was awarded a CEO Great Place to Work For All Leadership Award by Great Place to Work.[29]

Personal life

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Goodnight met his wife, Ann, while he was a senior at North Carolina State University and she was attending Meredith College. They have been married for over 50 years and have three children.[3][30]

Rock collection

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Goodnight has an interest in rock collecting. As a child, Goodnight would collect quartzes and arrowheads in the Greensboro area. He rediscovered his interest in geology in adulthood and began collecting rare rocks and other natural objects. In addition to minerals, he has also collected fossilized wood, dinosaur eggs and arrowheads from the Archaic period in North Carolina (dating between 8,000 BC and 1,000 BC). His collection includes hundreds of pieces, coming from over 40 countries.[31] Goodnight has described rocks and minerals as a genre of art.[32]

Parts of the collection are exhibited on the SAS campus in Cary, North Carolina. The display has been described as "a testament to his love of unique pieces of earth, from petrified dinosaur eggs, to impressive, mosaic chunks of native granite, to large, glassy meteorites."[33] Goodnight has loaned pieces from his collection to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for the enjoyment of the public. A selection of pieces are displayed in the Betsy M. Bennett Bridge to Discovery, which links the museum to its Nature Research Center.[34]

Wealth and philanthropy

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In April 2023, Goodnight's net worth was estimated at US$7.4 billion, making him the richest person in North Carolina, ahead of Epic Games' Tim Sweeney.[2] The Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimated his net worth to be US$11 billion in April 2024.[35]

Goodnight has an interest in improving the state of education, particularly elementary and secondary education.[36] He has advocated for increased funding for STEM education in the United States to prevent brain-drain and the outsourcing of research and technology jobs to other countries.[37] In 1996, Goodnight and his wife, along with his business partner, John Sall and his wife Ginger, founded an independent prep school Cary Academy.[38] He has advocated for restructuring preschool funding in North Carolina to extend access to more children in the state.[39]

The Goodnights have engaged in various philanthropic activities related to North Carolina State University. They created the Goodnight Scholarships, including the Goodnight Scholars Program and the Goodnight Transfer Scholars Program, which provides full tuition scholarships and development programs to students in STEM.[40] Their endowments have also created the Goodnight Doctoral Fellowship, 28 named faculty positions, and a deanship at North Carolina State.[41]

The Goodnights also founded the Goodnight Educational Foundation in 2005.[42] The foundation has supported the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities' Science of Reading Initiative.[43] In 2023, the Goodnight Distinguished Professorship in Early Literacy at Western Carolina University was established with a $1.5 million endowment from the foundation.[44] Goodnight has also contributed to the William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation.[45]

The Goodnights have also donated to causes such as wildlife conservation and historical preservation.[46] They sponsored the Jim and Ann Goodnight Museum Park, part of the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh.[47] In 2018, Goodnight and his wife were awarded by the North Carolina Museum of History for their contributions to the preservation of North Carolina history.[48] He is a patron of the Carolina Ballet.[49]

Both of the Goodnights are also involved in the local Cary, North Carolina, community. He has invested heavily in real estate in Cary, which - in addition to tax revenue generated by SAS and the attraction of thousands of employees - has contributed to the town's growth since the 1970s. He has also invested in the development of the neighboring community of Chatham Park.[50][51] He owns Prestonwood Country Club and The Umstead Hotel and Spa situated on the edge of the SAS campus.[52][53][54]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Jim Goodnight, Co-Founder & CEO". www.sas.com. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  2. ^ a b "Jim Goodnight regains status as NC's richest person, toppling Epic Games' Tim Sweeney | WRAL TechWire". WRAL TechWire. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  3. ^ a b c Maney, Kevin (April 21, 2004). "SAS Workers Won When Greed Lost". USA Today. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Goodnight for all". The Irish Times. 16 June 2000. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  5. ^ "A good night for numbers". The Charlotte Observer. 27 July 2008.
  6. ^ a b c d Official biography, SAS Institute, retrieved December 13, 2012
  7. ^ Hoyle, Amanda (25 June 2014). "TKE alumni selling fraternity house at N.C. State, listed for $2.6M". Triangle Business Journal.
  8. ^ Raleigh News & Observer. "Ann and Jim Goodnight." December 31, 2006. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  9. ^ a b Stallard, Michael (June 18, 2010). "Has SAS Chairman Jim Goodnight Cracked the Code of Corporate Culture?". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  10. ^ a b Bankert, Ellen; Lee, Mary Dean; Lange, Candice, "SAS Institute: A case on the role of senior business leaders in driving work/life cultural change" (PDF), The Wharton Work/Life Roundtable: A Division of the Wharton Work/Life Integration Project, University of Pennsylvania, SAS Institute has received considerable media attention for the "utopian" environment for which it has become known
  11. ^ Kaplan, David (January 22, 2010). "SAS: A new no. 1 best employer". Fortune. Archived from the original on November 29, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  12. ^ SAS Institute FDA Intellectual Partnership for Efficient Regulated Research Data Archival and Analyses (PDF), Presented at Duke University, April 12, 2000, retrieved September 28, 2011
  13. ^ Lohr, Steve (November 21, 2009). "At a Software Powerhouse, the Good Life Is Under Siege". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  14. ^ SAS corporate timeline, WRAL, March 3, 2011, retrieved October 17, 2011
  15. ^ Corporate Statistics, SAS Institute, retrieved August 10, 2011
  16. ^ Buchanan, Leigh (September 2011). "How SAS Continues to Grow". Inc. Magazine. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  17. ^ Gordon, Brian (September 28, 2023). "SAS eliminates more positions this week as part of its 2023 staff reduction plan". The News & Observer.
  18. ^ Hardy, Quentin (June 9, 2011). "SAS-We Spurned IBM, Now to Win". Forbes. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  19. ^ Shivapriya, N (September 25, 2008). "SAS Steams Along as Unlisted Firms Amid US Financial Chaos". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  20. ^ Joel, Kurtzman. "An Interview with Jeffrey Pfeffer". Strategy+Business.
  21. ^ Fishman, Charles (December 31, 1998). "Sanity Inc". Fast Company. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
  22. ^ Building a Winning Corporate Culture – Jim Goodnight and SAS, HSM Global
  23. ^ View/Search Fellows of the ASA Archived 2016-06-16 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 2016-10-15.
  24. ^ Ioannou, Lori (2019-11-04). "Jim Goodnight, the 'Godfather of A.I.,' predicts the future fate of the US workforce". CNBC. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  25. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  26. ^ "Jim Goodnight". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  27. ^ "Great American Business Leaders of the 20th Century: James H. Goodnight". Harvard Business School. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  28. ^ Fenn, Donna. "James Goodnight, SAS". Inc. Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  29. ^ SAS. "SAS' Jim Goodnight honored with CEO Great Place to Work® For All Leadership Award". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  30. ^ "Ann Goodnight collects art and North Carolina benefits | Walter Magazine". 31 March 2014. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  31. ^ zonker (2014-10-31). "Natural treasures: The extraordinary collection of Dr. Jim Goodnight". WALTER Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  32. ^ "Rock Collection Lines the Walls Of Software Executive's Office". Wall Street Journal. 2003-11-05. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  33. ^ Hemsoth, Nicole (2012-07-03). "Chips, Stats & Stones: A Morning with SAS CEO Dr. Jim Goodnight". Datanami. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  34. ^ zonker (2014-10-31). "Natural treasures: The extraordinary collection of Dr. Jim Goodnight". WALTER Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  35. ^ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index". Bloomberg.com. 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  36. ^ Judson, Andie (27 February 2017). "Forbes: Richest person in North Carolina". WCNC. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  37. ^ "SAS Institute CEO Jim Goodnight on Building Strong Companies -- and a More Competitive U.S. Workforce". Knowledge at Wharton. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  38. ^ SAS Institute CEO Jim Goodnight on Building Strong Companies – and a More Competitive U.S. Workforce, January 5, 2011, retrieved December 12, 2012
  39. ^ "SAS CEO Jim Goodnight: Change NC's pre-K funding to reach more children". NC Chamber. 2019-08-14.
  40. ^ "Goodnight Scholarships". Goodnight Scholarships. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  41. ^ "Goodnight Doctoral Fellowship". The Graduate School. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  42. ^ "Goodnight Educational Foundation - Company Profile and News". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  43. ^ "Goodnight Foundation Supports NCICU's Science of Reading Initiative – NCICU". 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  44. ^ Bill Studenc (2023-03-14). "New professorship in early literacy established with $1.5M from Goodnight Foundation". Western Carolina University. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  45. ^ "James Goodnight". Inside Philanthropy. 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  46. ^ "SAS, Goodnight keep demonstrating the power to do good | WRAL TechWire". wraltechwire.com. 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  47. ^ Kowalksi, Emily (2016-11-04). "The Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park". North Carolina Museum of Art. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  48. ^ Intern, Editorial (2019-01-08). "N.C. Museum of History Hosts Foundation Philanthropy Awards". WALTER Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  49. ^ "James Goodnight". Inside Philanthropy. 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  50. ^ "SAS' NEXT MOVE". www.bizjournals.com.
  51. ^ Barkin, Dan (2023-09-11). "Cary's growth not just due to natural advantages". Business North Carolina. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  52. ^ "Citizen Goodnight". Raleigh News and Observer. July 21, 1996. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  53. ^ "The Umstead Hotel, Umstead Spa, And Herons Offer Five Star Luxury In The Triangle". The Raleigh Telegram. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  54. ^ "Ann Goodnight planning upscale restaurant near hotel". Triangle Business Journal. Retrieved 7 February 2013.

Further reading

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