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{{Short description|American businessman, engineer and writer}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Kenneth Lafferty Hess
| name = Kenneth Lafferty Hess
| image = Kenneth-L-Hess GoldenStateStarParty DSC4159 sml.jpg
| image = Kenneth-L-Hess GoldenStateStarParty DSC4159 sml.jpg
| caption = Kenneth L. Hess, engineer, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, at the Golden State Star Party, northeastern California, 2009.
| caption = Kenneth L. Hess, engineer, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, at the Golden State Star Party, northeastern California, 2009.
| birth_date = {{Birth date |1953|1|22}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|1|22}}
| birth_place = Warren, Ohio, USA
| birth_place = Warren, Ohio, USA
| origin =
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| occupation = [[Science Buddies]] Founder and President
| occupation = [[Science Buddies]] Founder and President
| alma_mater = [[Stanford]]
| alma_mater = [[Stanford]]<br/>[[Harvard]]
[[Harvard]]
| salary =
| networth =
| spouse =
| spouse =
| website =
| website =
| footnotes =}}
| footnotes =}}


'''Kenneth Lafferty Hess''' (born January 22, 1953) is an engineer, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Hess is founder and president of [[Science Buddies]], a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering science literacy through the creation of free resources and services for K-12 students, teachers, and families. He holds one of the first software patents ever granted<ref>[http://www.klhess.com/ken_bio.htm Bio of Kenneth Lafferty Hess]</ref> and has designed and/or developed dozens of commercial software, content, and Internet products, including Family Tree Maker, one of the all-time best-selling home software programs. Among his awards are a ''PC Magazine'' Editor's Choice, ''PC Magazine'' Top 100 Web Site, a [[Codie awards|Software Publishing Association Codie]], and a [http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0502sp_spore.shtml ''Science'' Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE)].
'''Kenneth Lafferty Hess''' (born January 22, 1953) is an engineer, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Hess is the founder and president of [[Science Buddies]], a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering science literacy through the creation of free resources and services for K-12 students, teachers, and families. He holds one of the first software patents ever granted<ref>[http://www.klhess.com/ken_bio.htm Bio of Kenneth Lafferty Hess]</ref> and has designed and/or developed dozens of commercial software, content, and Internet products, including Family Tree Maker, one of the all-time best-selling home software programs. Among his awards are a ''PC Magazine'' Editor's Choice, ''PC Magazine'' Top 100 Web Site, a [[Software and Information Industry Association#CODiE Awards|Codie award]] and a ''Science'' Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0502sp_spore.shtml|title=Science Selects 'Science Buddies' Web site to Win SPORE Award &#124; American Association for the Advancement of Science}}</ref>


==Science Buddies==
==Science Buddies==
As a ninth grader, Hess' science fair project involved using a dentist's X-ray machine to test a [[cloud chamber]] he had built.<ref>[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-04/aaft-s042111.php ''Science'' selects 'Science Buddies' website to win SPORE Award]</ref> Hess was interested in observing the trails of the radioactive particles as they moved through the chamber. Later, as a parent, Hess observed his daughter's success and enjoyment of the science fair process.
As a ninth-grader, Hess' science fair project involved using a dentist's X-ray machine to test a [[cloud chamber]] he had built.<ref>[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-04/aaft-s042111.php ''Science'' selects 'Science Buddies' website to win SPORE Award]</ref> Hess was interested in observing the trails of the radioactive particles as they moved through the chamber. Later, as a parent, Hess observed his daughter's success and enjoyment of the science fair process.


At the same time, he recognized that many students lack the resources and support they need to get the maximum educational benefit from a science fair project. With a goal of supporting students from all walks of life (as well as their teachers, parents, and schools) in doing science research projects, Hess founded [[Science Buddies]] in 2001 under the umbrella of the Kenneth Lafferty Hess Family Charitable Foundation. (The organization formalized its name change to Science Buddies in 2010.<ref>[http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/news_2010.shtml#News08 Science Buddies Formalizes Name Change]</ref>)
At the same time, he recognized that many students lack the resources and support they need to get the maximum educational benefit from a science fair project. With a goal of supporting students from all walks of life (as well as their teachers, parents, and schools) in doing science research projects, Hess founded [[Science Buddies]] in 2001 under the umbrella of the Kenneth Lafferty Hess Family Charitable Foundation. (The organization formalized its name change to Science Buddies in 2010.<ref>[http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/news_2010.shtml#News08 Science Buddies Formalizes Name Change]</ref>)


Since the inception of Science Buddies, Hess has led the organization in creating an innovative library of resources designed to enrich and support science education. These resources include [http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml 1000+ scientist-vetted project ideas] in more than 30 scientific fields, a [http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/recommender_register.php Topic Selection Wizard] to help students find exciting and appropriate science and engineering projects, [http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/teacher_resources.shtml tools and materials] for classroom use, [http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/teacher_resources.shtml?From=Tab#guidetoplanningsciencefair guides] to help science-fair administrators, and a complete [http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_guide_index.shtml project guide] to help students with all steps of conducting a science or engineering project. During 2010, 9.8 million unique individuals visited the [http://www.sciencebuddies.org Science Buddies website], a number equal to ∼18% of U.S. students in grades K–12.<ref>[http://www.sciencemag.org/content/332/6029/550.full Science Buddies: Advancing Informal Science Education], ''Science'' 29 April 2011: Vol. 332 No. 6029 pp. 550-551, DOI: 10.1126/science.1196978</ref>
Since the inception of Science Buddies, Hess has led the organization in creating an innovative library of resources designed to enrich and support science education. These resources include 1000+ scientist-vetted project ideas in more than 30 scientific fields, a Topic Selection Wizard to help students find exciting and appropriate science and engineering projects, tools and materials for classroom use, guides to help science-fair administrators, and a complete project guide to help students with all steps of conducting a science or engineering project. During 2010, 9.8 million unique individuals visited the Science Buddies website, a number equal to ~18% of U.S. students in grades K–12.<ref>[https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.1196978 Science Buddies: Advancing Informal Science Education], ''Science'' 29 April 2011: Vol. 332 No. 6029 pp. 550-551, {{doi|10.1126/science.1196978}}</ref>


As a testament to the quality of resources Hess has implemented and developed at Science Buddies to meet the needs of K-12 educators and to help bridge the gap between researchers and K-12 students, Science Buddies was awarded the prestigious [http://www.sciencemag.org/site/feature/data/prizes/spore/ Science Prize for Online Resources in Education] (SPORE) in April 2011.<ref>[http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0502sp_spore.shtml ''Science'' Selects 'Science Buddies' Web site to Win SPORE Award]</ref> SPORE awards are given by ''Science'' and the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]] (AAAS).
As a testament to the quality of resources Hess has implemented and developed at Science Buddies to meet the needs of K-12 educators and to help bridge the gap between researchers and K-12 students, Science Buddies was awarded the prestigious Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE) in April 2011.<ref>[http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2011/0502sp_spore.shtml ''Science'' Selects 'Science Buddies' Web site to Win SPORE Award]</ref> SPORE awards are given by ''Science'' and the [[American Association for the Advancement of Science]] (AAAS).


==Career==
==Career==
Prior to launching his first company, Hess worked at [[Intel corporation|Intel Corporation]], [[Teradyne]], [[Hewlett-Packard]], and [[Symantec]]. He founded Banner Blue Software in 1984. Tapping into a growing societal interest in [[genealogy]] and personal ancestry, Banner Blue developed Family Tree Maker, [[genealogy software]] that enabled users to locate and organize ancestral information.<ref>[http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/co_bkgnd.html Banner Blue Division - Background Information]</ref> During the first half of 1996, Family Tree Maker was one of three top-selling personal productivity product lines, according to PC Data.
Prior to launching his first company, Hess worked at [[Intel corporation|Intel Corporation]], [[Teradyne]], [[Hewlett-Packard]], and [[NortonLifeLock|Symantec]]. He founded Banner Blue Software in 1984. Tapping into a growing societal interest in [[genealogy]] and personal ancestry, Banner Blue developed [[Family Tree Maker]], [[genealogy software]] that enabled users to locate and organize ancestral information.<ref>[http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/co_bkgnd.html Banner Blue Division - Background Information]</ref> During the first half of 1996, Family Tree Maker was one of three top-selling personal productivity product lines, according to PC Data.
Banner Blue also developed Org Plus, a tool for creating corporate organization charts. A version of Org Plus, labeled Microsoft Organization Chart, was bundled into copies of Microsoft Office for many years. Hess wrote the initial versions of both Family Tree Maker and Org Plus and designed the initial version of Family Tree Maker Online.<ref>[http://www.thedacs.com/techs/abstract/218247 Growing the Family Business (Banner Blue Software)]</ref>
Banner Blue also developed Org Plus, a tool for creating corporate organization charts. A version of Org Plus, labeled Microsoft Organization Chart, was bundled into copies of Microsoft Office for many years. Hess wrote the initial versions of both Family Tree Maker and Org Plus and designed the initial version of Family Tree Maker Online.<ref>[http://www.thedacs.com/techs/abstract/218247 Growing the Family Business (Banner Blue Software)]</ref>


Hess' success with Banner Blue Software was an exercise in "[[Bootstrapping (business)|bootstrapping]]."<ref>[http://www.klhess.com/bootstrap/index.htm Bootstrap: Lessons Learned Building a Successful Company from Scratch]</ref> Starting the company with a personal investment of $20,000, Hess bootstrapped Banner Blue Software into a company with 100 employees and annual sales of $25 million (and approximately 2 million copies of Family Tree Maker sold) when [[Broderbund| Broderbund Software, Inc.]] acquired it in 1995.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/06/business/company-news-broderbund-software-in-banner-blue-acquisition.html Broderbund Software in Banner Blue Acquisition], ''The New York Times'', May 6, 1995,</ref> Hess outlined the success of Banner Blue and his "bootstrapping" approach in [http://www.klhess.com/bootstrap/index.htm ''Bootstrap: Lessons Learned Building a Successful Company from Scratch''].
Hess' success with Banner Blue Software was an exercise in "[[Bootstrapping (business)|bootstrapping]]."<ref>[http://www.klhess.com/bootstrap/index.htm Bootstrap: Lessons Learned Building a Successful Company from Scratch]</ref> Starting the company with a personal investment of $20,000, Hess bootstrapped Banner Blue Software into a company with 100 employees and annual sales of $25 million (and approximately 2 million copies of Family Tree Maker sold) when [[Broderbund| Broderbund Software, Inc.]] acquired it in 1995.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/06/business/company-news-broderbund-software-in-banner-blue-acquisition.html Broderbund Software in Banner Blue Acquisition], ''The New York Times'', May 6, 1995,</ref> Hess outlined the success of Banner Blue and his "bootstrapping" approach in ''Bootstrap: Lessons Learned Building a Successful Company from Scratch''.


In 1999, Hess co-founded [[Pocket Express]], a company that designed and manufactured software for Palm pocket computers. Pocket Express' product line was sold to Handmark, Inc. in 2002.
In 1999, Hess co-founded [[Pocket Express]], a company that designed and manufactured software for Palm pocket computers. Pocket Express' product line was sold to Handmark, Inc. in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Handmark buys assets of San Francisco software firm|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2002/06/17/daily32.html|access-date=2020-11-25|website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref>
=== Suborbital spaceflight on New Shepard ===
In 2024, Hess was selected in a [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|suborbital spacefight]] mission to fly on a planned [[Blue Origin]]'s [[New Shepard]] [[Blue Origin NS-25|NS-25]] in April 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Shepard’s 25th Mission Includes America’s First Black Astronaut Candidate |url=https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-shepard-ns-25-mission-announcement |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Blue Origin |language=en-US}}</ref> The others members of the crew are Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Carol Schaller, Gopichand Thotakura and [[Ed Dwight]], a former US Air Force Captain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Gopi Thotakura, Indian pilot set to fly to space as a tourist |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/meet-gopi-thotakura-first-indian-space-tourist-as-part-of-blue-origins-new-shephard-25-ns-25-mission-2526659-2024-04-13 |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>


==Boards and Advisory Committees==
==Boards and advisory committees==
* Chairman of [[California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science]] (COSMOS) Advisory Board<ref>[http://www.ucop.edu/cosmos/board.html COSMOS Advisory Board Members ]</ref>
* Chairman of [[California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science]] (COSMOS) Advisory Board<ref>[http://www.ucop.edu/cosmos/board.html COSMOS Advisory Board Members ]</ref>
* Sensant Corporation, San Leandro, CA, 1998-2005 (Sensant was acquired by [[Siemens]] in 2005<ref>[http://www.medical.siemens.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PressReleaseView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=-1&pageId=65738 Siemens to Acquire Sensant Corp.]</ref>)
* Sensant Corporation, San Leandro, CA, 1998-2005 (Sensant was acquired by [[Siemens]] in 2005<ref>[http://www.medical.siemens.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PressReleaseView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=-1&pageId=65738 Siemens to Acquire Sensant Corp.]</ref>)
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* Software Forum Advisory Board, 1993–1998
* Software Forum Advisory Board, 1993–1998


==Publications and Patents==
==Publications and patents==
* [http://www.sciencemag.org/content/332/6029/550 Science Buddies: Advancing Informal Science Education] ''Science'' 29 April 2011: Vol. 332 no. 6029 pp.&nbsp;550–551, DOI: 10.1126/science.1196978
* [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1196978 Science Buddies: Advancing Informal Science Education] ''Science'' 29 April 2011: Vol. 332 no. 6029 pp.&nbsp;550–551, {{doi|10.1126/science.1196978}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okG-j-iTUoA&feature=player_embedded Science Buddies: Advancing Informal Science Education] (video), 2011)
* {{YouTube|okG-j-iTUoA|Science Buddies: Advancing Informal Science Education}} (video, 2011)
* [http://www.amazon.com/Bootstrap-Lessons-Learned-Building-Successful/dp/0971187304/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1305140318&sr=8-8 ''Bootstrap: Lessons Learned Building A Successful Company From Scratch''], S-Curve Press, 2001.
* [https://www.amazon.com/Bootstrap-Lessons-Learned-Building-Successful/dp/0971187304/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1305140318&sr=8-8 ''Bootstrap: Lessons Learned Building A Successful Company From Scratch''], S-Curve Press, 2001.
* [http://www.klhess.com/sef_spch.html Remarks to Software Forum Dinner Meeting], 1997.
* [http://www.klhess.com/sef_spch.html Remarks to Software Forum Dinner Meeting], 1997.
* [http://ip.com/patent/US4764867 U.S. Patent 4,764,867], "Display System and Method for Constructing and Editing a Hierarchical Arrangement of Information," issued August 1988.
* [http://ip.com/patent/US4764867 U.S. Patent 4,764,867], "Display System and Method for Constructing and Editing a Hierarchical Arrangement of Information," issued August 1988.
⚫
* "Picking the Best Display: An Easy-to-Follow Guide." ''Electronic Design'' (August 19, 1982): 139-146-1215


⚫
==Early life and education==
⚫
* "Picking the Best Display: An Easy-to-Follow Guide." ''Electronic Design'' (August 19, 1982): 139-146.

⚫
==Early Life and Education==
Hess was born in Warren, Ohio, to Phyllis Lafferty Hess and Richard Morton Hess. After graduating from [[Howland High School]] in 1971, Hess attended [[Stanford University]] where he earned a BS in Engineering. His course of study was interdisciplinary with emphasis in engineering, computer science, and political science. Following Stanford, Hess received an MBA from [[Harvard University|Harvard]].
Hess was born in Warren, Ohio, to Phyllis Lafferty Hess and Richard Morton Hess. After graduating from [[Howland High School]] in 1971, Hess attended [[Stanford University]] where he earned a BS in Engineering. His course of study was interdisciplinary with emphasis in engineering, computer science, and political science. Following Stanford, Hess received an MBA from [[Harvard University|Harvard]].


==Family and Hobbies==
==Family and hobbies==
Hess and his wife, Constance, have one daughter, Amber. Hess' personal interests include photography and astronomy. Combining his interest in photography, astro-photography, and science literacy, Hess has authored the following Science Buddies resources and materials:
Hess and his wife, Constance, have one daughter, Amber. Hess' personal interests include photography and astronomy. Combining his interest in photography, astro-photography, and science literacy, Hess has authored the following Science Buddies resources and materials:
* [http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Photo_p001.shtml Camera Lens Testing]
* [http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Photo_p001.shtml Camera Lens Testing]
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* [http://globalgenealogy.com/globalgazette/gazed/gazed121.htm Corporate Chronology of Family Tree Maker], October 17, 2006
* [http://globalgenealogy.com/globalgazette/gazed/gazed121.htm Corporate Chronology of Family Tree Maker], October 17, 2006


{{authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1953-01-22
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Warren, Ohio, USA
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Hess, Kenneth}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hess, Kenneth}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:American authors]]
[[Category:American male writers]]
[[Category:American engineers]]
[[Category:21st-century American engineers]]
[[Category:American philanthropists]]
[[Category:American philanthropists]]
[[Category:Entrepreneurs]]
[[Category:American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Harvard Business School alumni]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]

Latest revision as of 12:12, 23 July 2024

Kenneth Lafferty Hess
Kenneth L. Hess, engineer, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, at the Golden State Star Party, northeastern California, 2009.
Born (1953-01-22) January 22, 1953 (age 71)
Warren, Ohio, USA
Alma materStanford
Harvard
Occupation(s)Science Buddies Founder and President

Kenneth Lafferty Hess (born January 22, 1953) is an engineer, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Hess is the founder and president of Science Buddies, a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering science literacy through the creation of free resources and services for K-12 students, teachers, and families. He holds one of the first software patents ever granted[1] and has designed and/or developed dozens of commercial software, content, and Internet products, including Family Tree Maker, one of the all-time best-selling home software programs. Among his awards are a PC Magazine Editor's Choice, PC Magazine Top 100 Web Site, a Codie award and a Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE).[2]

Science Buddies

[edit]

As a ninth-grader, Hess' science fair project involved using a dentist's X-ray machine to test a cloud chamber he had built.[3] Hess was interested in observing the trails of the radioactive particles as they moved through the chamber. Later, as a parent, Hess observed his daughter's success and enjoyment of the science fair process.

At the same time, he recognized that many students lack the resources and support they need to get the maximum educational benefit from a science fair project. With a goal of supporting students from all walks of life (as well as their teachers, parents, and schools) in doing science research projects, Hess founded Science Buddies in 2001 under the umbrella of the Kenneth Lafferty Hess Family Charitable Foundation. (The organization formalized its name change to Science Buddies in 2010.[4])

Since the inception of Science Buddies, Hess has led the organization in creating an innovative library of resources designed to enrich and support science education. These resources include 1000+ scientist-vetted project ideas in more than 30 scientific fields, a Topic Selection Wizard to help students find exciting and appropriate science and engineering projects, tools and materials for classroom use, guides to help science-fair administrators, and a complete project guide to help students with all steps of conducting a science or engineering project. During 2010, 9.8 million unique individuals visited the Science Buddies website, a number equal to ~18% of U.S. students in grades K–12.[5]

As a testament to the quality of resources Hess has implemented and developed at Science Buddies to meet the needs of K-12 educators and to help bridge the gap between researchers and K-12 students, Science Buddies was awarded the prestigious Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE) in April 2011.[6] SPORE awards are given by Science and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Career

[edit]

Prior to launching his first company, Hess worked at Intel Corporation, Teradyne, Hewlett-Packard, and Symantec. He founded Banner Blue Software in 1984. Tapping into a growing societal interest in genealogy and personal ancestry, Banner Blue developed Family Tree Maker, genealogy software that enabled users to locate and organize ancestral information.[7] During the first half of 1996, Family Tree Maker was one of three top-selling personal productivity product lines, according to PC Data. Banner Blue also developed Org Plus, a tool for creating corporate organization charts. A version of Org Plus, labeled Microsoft Organization Chart, was bundled into copies of Microsoft Office for many years. Hess wrote the initial versions of both Family Tree Maker and Org Plus and designed the initial version of Family Tree Maker Online.[8]

Hess' success with Banner Blue Software was an exercise in "bootstrapping."[9] Starting the company with a personal investment of $20,000, Hess bootstrapped Banner Blue Software into a company with 100 employees and annual sales of $25 million (and approximately 2 million copies of Family Tree Maker sold) when Broderbund Software, Inc. acquired it in 1995.[10] Hess outlined the success of Banner Blue and his "bootstrapping" approach in Bootstrap: Lessons Learned Building a Successful Company from Scratch.

In 1999, Hess co-founded Pocket Express, a company that designed and manufactured software for Palm pocket computers. Pocket Express' product line was sold to Handmark, Inc. in 2002.[11]

Suborbital spaceflight on New Shepard

[edit]

In 2024, Hess was selected in a suborbital spacefight mission to fly on a planned Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-25 in April 2024.[12] The others members of the crew are Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Carol Schaller, Gopichand Thotakura and Ed Dwight, a former US Air Force Captain.[13]

Boards and advisory committees

[edit]

Publications and patents

[edit]
  • Science Buddies: Advancing Informal Science Education Science 29 April 2011: Vol. 332 no. 6029 pp. 550–551, doi:10.1126/science.1196978
  • Science Buddies: Advancing Informal Science Education on YouTube (video, 2011)
  • Bootstrap: Lessons Learned Building A Successful Company From Scratch, S-Curve Press, 2001.
  • Remarks to Software Forum Dinner Meeting, 1997.
  • U.S. Patent 4,764,867, "Display System and Method for Constructing and Editing a Hierarchical Arrangement of Information," issued August 1988.
  • "Picking the Best Display: An Easy-to-Follow Guide." Electronic Design (August 19, 1982): 139-146-1215

Early life and education

[edit]

Hess was born in Warren, Ohio, to Phyllis Lafferty Hess and Richard Morton Hess. After graduating from Howland High School in 1971, Hess attended Stanford University where he earned a BS in Engineering. His course of study was interdisciplinary with emphasis in engineering, computer science, and political science. Following Stanford, Hess received an MBA from Harvard.

Family and hobbies

[edit]

Hess and his wife, Constance, have one daughter, Amber. Hess' personal interests include photography and astronomy. Combining his interest in photography, astro-photography, and science literacy, Hess has authored the following Science Buddies resources and materials:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bio of Kenneth Lafferty Hess
  2. ^ "Science Selects 'Science Buddies' Web site to Win SPORE Award | American Association for the Advancement of Science".
  3. ^ Science selects 'Science Buddies' website to win SPORE Award
  4. ^ Science Buddies Formalizes Name Change
  5. ^ Science Buddies: Advancing Informal Science Education, Science 29 April 2011: Vol. 332 No. 6029 pp. 550-551, doi:10.1126/science.1196978
  6. ^ Science Selects 'Science Buddies' Web site to Win SPORE Award
  7. ^ Banner Blue Division - Background Information
  8. ^ Growing the Family Business (Banner Blue Software)
  9. ^ Bootstrap: Lessons Learned Building a Successful Company from Scratch
  10. ^ Broderbund Software in Banner Blue Acquisition, The New York Times, May 6, 1995,
  11. ^ "Handmark buys assets of San Francisco software firm". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  12. ^ "New Shepard's 25th Mission Includes America's First Black Astronaut Candidate". Blue Origin. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
  13. ^ "Meet Gopi Thotakura, Indian pilot set to fly to space as a tourist". India Today. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
  14. ^ COSMOS Advisory Board Members
  15. ^ Siemens to Acquire Sensant Corp.
[edit]
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