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Ted Kummert (BSEE ’85) To Give UW EE’s 2013 Graduation Speech

April 1, 2013

ted_kummertThis year’s electrical engineering graduates will mark the occasion with a ceremony on Friday, June 14 in Kane Hall 130 that includes remarks by distinguished EE alum, Ted Kummert. After more than two decades at Microsoft, Ted is well-qualified to share a challenge to graduates as they leave the UW and pursue positions in the corporate world and academia.

Ted’s success at Microsoft is marked by leadership in areas including operating systems, consumer online services, enterprise security and application platform. He was instrumental in the development of key enterprise products:  SQL Server, SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse, Windows Azure Data Services and Microsoft’s business intelligence and big data offerings. Widely known as the “data chief” of Microsoft, he led the data platform business through a period of significant growth and drove the cloud and big data strategy for the platform.

Kummert is currently a venture partner at Madrona Venture Group where he is responsible for identification of new investments and providing strategic counsel and operational advice to Madrona portfolio companies.

A self-identified “diehard Husky,” Ted graduated magna cum laude with a BS in electrical engineering in 1985. He not only supports athletic teams at the UW, rarely missing a football or basketball game, but also is dedicated to academics through his service on the EE Advisory Board. It was EE Professor Yongmin Kim’s class on “Digital Logic” that sparked Ted’s interest in computers. Equipped with an education based on a strong technical foundation and problem-solving skills, Ted has had an amazing professional career. It’s clear that he will share a valuable message to members of the class of 2013—reflecting on their education and where it may lead them!