Microsoft Executive to Join CWU President during Annual State of the University Address

Orlando Ayala, Microsoft’s chairman and corporate vice president of emerging businesses, will join CWU President James Gaudino in the annual State of the University address on February 1, in the McConnell Hall Auditorium, in Ellensburg. Together they will discuss how innovation is empowering people for great change and will outline a new partnership to increase access to higher education.

Ayala will be the first guest speaker to share keynote responsibilities with the president in a State of the University address.

The State of the University address will begin at 10:30 a.m. with an address by President Gaudino, who will be followed by Ayala. The two also will meet for a small group discussion with faculty from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Over his 25-year career at Microsoft, Ayala has worked to catalyze growth and development in new business models for Microsoft’s Sales, Marketing, and Services Group and foster internal and external collaboration to help drive long-term success. He currently heads up Microsoft’s newly-formed Sports Industry team including the recently announced technology partnership between the company and the Real Madrid soccer club. He is also Microsoft’s executive director for national competitiveness initiatives, which are designed to help national, provincial, and local governments develop the digital infrastructure, educational programs, and human resources to turn a government’s particular capabilities into a competitive advantage on an international scale.

Media contact: Linda Schactler, CWU Public Affairs, 509-607-4103, Schactler@cwu.edu