Technician
tuesday january
11 2011
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Red Hat to stay on Centennial Campus Successful software company announces it will headquarter in Wake County. Brooke Wallig Deputy News Editor
Donning a red fedora for the occasion, Governor Bev Perdue announced Monday homegrown “upstart”’ company Red Hat will build its corporate headquarters somewhere in Wake County - and maintain its presence on Centennial Campus. According to Perdue, the company brought innovative technology to light a decade ago. On the strength of a multimillion-dollar incentive package, the company will keep its headquarters in Wake County rather than moving to one of three other competing states. “When this upstart little company came to us 10 years ago, they had a vision of where the future was going,” Perdue said. “They are successful and will continue to be successful, and they could have gone anywhere they wanted. It is a great day in Raleigh.” Red Hat, a leading company in open source technology, currently resides in about 188,000 square feet on Centennial Campus and has initiated extensive partnerships within the University, according to College of Engineering Vice Chancellor Dennis Kekas. “We are very pleased to have [Red Hat] at N.C. State. They have been a very positive factor for growth on Centennial Campus,” said Kekas. “They are currently involved in many focused projects on campus, including researching how to make open software more secure, updating the computer science curriculum and funding the Institute for Next Generation IT Systems - as well as the OSCAR lab.” According to Kekas, Red Hat has grown considerably since its initial days, and it will likely expand beyond the University’s capacity. “When they started off, they only took up a couple floors in one building. Now, they are using 188,000 square feet of office space, employ between 650 and 700 people on campus and [are] still expanding,” Kekas said. “Even if their new headquarters is no longer on campus, this will still be an opportunity to grow our partnership with Red Hat. At some point they will be too big for the campus, but there is certainly room now.” According to Perdue, the company typically grows at least 20 percent annually, and it will create approximately 540 new jobs when the new headquarters opens. Package Helps Tempt Red Hat to Stay Though there is no determined loca-
Alex Sanchez/Technician
Before announcing Red Hat's decision to stay and expand in North Carolina, Gov. Bev Perdue smiles while wearing a red hat. The expansion will create 540 jobs and the state will grant Red Hat $18 million in incentives.
tion for the new corporate headquarters, Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst said North Carolina was chosen over other national competitors because of Red Hat’s extensive University partnerships and an $18 million incentive package to be paid out by the state. Despite vocal concerns regarding the sizable package, Perdue said she stands by the amount. “Contrary to what the world would
like, it is necessary to offer companies like Red Hat incentive packages in order to be competitive, and these economic times these companies have to look for the best deal they can get,” Perdue said. “North Carolina offers great economic incentives as well as great quality of life, and our workforce makes this the best place in America to do business. Decisions were made for all the right reasons.”
Red Hat Chief Executive Jim Whitehurst confirmed the importance of such incentives, citing it as the main reason North Carolina was chosen over other major potential locations, including Texas, Georgia, and Massachusetts. “Even in the best of times you have to make important decisions based on economics,” Whitehurst said. “We have enjoyed a great 10-year partner-
Krispy Kreme Challenge still seeking hungry runners Field almost full for February doughnut run. Chelsey Francis News Editor
Registration for the seventh annual Krispy Kreme Challenge is still open, but spots are filling up. The Krispy Kreme Challenge is operated by students and benefits the N.C. Children’s Hospital. The race began in 2004, with 12 participants. By 2009, that number had grown to 5,500. The Raleigh Police Department has set the maximum number of participants at 7,500 for the 2011 race. As of Sunday afternoon, 5,335 runners had registered on the Krispy Kreme Challenge website, according to Rebekah Jewell, the Krispy Kreme Challenge public relations co-chair and a senior in biological sciences. The Krispy Kreme Challenge will be held Feb. 5, beginning at the Bell Tower. Participants will run 2 miles to the Krispy Kreme store on Peace Street and eat a dozen doughnuts. Afterward, the runners are to run the 2
miles back to the Bell Tower. The time limit for the challenge is one hour. Registrants can participate as challengers, casual runners or supporters. According to the Krispy Kreme Challenge website, a challenger attempts to complete the challenge, including eating the doughnuts, in less than 1 hour. A casual runner can try to complete the entire challenge, but it is not required. Supporters do not participate in the race, but do get a Krispy Kreme Challenge T-shirt. According to Jewell, in 2010 the Krispy Kreme Challenge raised $55,000 for the N.C. Children’s Hospital. “We hope to raise more money this year than we did last year,” Jewell said. The Krispy Kreme Challenge 2011 has three student co-chairs: Sudeep Sunthanker, a senior in biomedical engineering; Rachel Turner, a senior in animal science and John Yanik, a senior in biomedical engineering. According to Jewell, the co-chairs of the event are chosen in the spring. “They immediately start planning for the next year’s race. In the fall, people interested in helping to plan
Red Hat continued page 2
insidetechnician
Pack travels to Chestnut Hill See page 8.
Luis Zapata/Technician Archive PHOTO
Along Peace Street, Rob Barton, a senior in accounting, hands doughnuts to runners as they go by during the sixth annual Krispy Kreme Challenge. Volunteers lined the street with tables stacked with Krispy Kreme boxes for racers to get so they could complete eating the dozen doughnuts for the race. Barton said he enjoyed "seeing the interesting people and outfits come by."
the Krispy Kreme Challenge meet, sign up for committees and start
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ship with North Carolina, but without the direct economic incentives we would not have been able to stay.” The only question now, according to Chancellor Randy Woodson, is where the headquarters will be built. “It is great to hear that Red Hat is staying in Wake County and on campus. The University has had a strong
Krispy continued page 2
‘Mass Effect 2’ making way for final sequel See page 5.
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