Glenn Allen Norem

Glenn Allen Norem passed away on October 21, 2013 at his home in Austin, Texas after an extraordinarily courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 61. Glenn was surrounded by his loving family and close friends during this difficult time, and supported by an outstanding medical team at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, and Texas Oncology and Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas. Glenn was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 7, 1952 to Martin and Barbara Norem, as the oldest of five children. He grew up in Mt. Zion, Illinois where he loved to romp around in the woods, build things with his dad and brothers, play with his chemistry set, ice-skate on frozen creeks, and compete in team sports. He graduated from Mt. Zion High School. Glenn received a BS degree in Electrical Sciences & Systems Engineering at Southern Illinois University and later an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In 1973, he was posted to Germany with the U.S. National Security Administration. During his service with the U.S. Army he developed his passion for world travel and foreign culture. He fell in love with the dramatic, beautiful landscape of Switzerland and returned countless times throughout his life. After returning to the United States, Glenn served in product development with IBM Corporation's System Communications Division R & D Laboratory in upstate New York, and was then brought to Dallas, Texas as a corporate business development manager for Texas Instruments. This was the beginning of what would become an over 30-year career in the technology industry as a corporate executive, venture investor, and serial entrepreneur. During the 1980's, Glenn went on to be a venture capitalist general partner at Southwest Partners and InterWest Partners, concurrently, investing in start-up and early stage companies focused on emerging technologies. With the spark of innovation and entrepreneurship driving him, he left venture investing to co-found and serve as Chief Executive Officer of ViewCast from 1992 to 1999 (originally Multimedia Access Corporation and Viewpoint Systems), the first company to develop video delivered on a packet network for streaming media over the internet. He also co-founded the Packet Video Forum in Washington, DC to advance video-conferencing interoperability. Glenn took ViewCast public on the Nasdaq Stock Market before exiting for his next venture. Seeing a technology industry need for an electronic component supply-chain inventory marketplace, in 1999 Glenn developed the software for, founded and served as CEO and Chairman of eeParts in Dallas. And then, after a series of trade delegations, he was as one of the first small U.S. businesses to launch operations in China, opening offices in Shanghai, Suzhou, and Shenzhen. Glenn was very active in shaping public policy on both a federal and state level for the technology industry. He served as Chairman of TechAmerican's (formerly AeA – the American Electronics Association – the nation's largest high-tech trade association) Texas Council and on its National Board of Directors for many years. Glenn also served on the information Technology Industry Initiatives Board for the Texas Workforce Commission and on the Board of Advisors for the Texas Department of Information technology. In 2003, Glenn was on the team that created the Texas Enterprise Fund, providing the state's leaders with $295 million to strengthen the state's economy through economic development projects, bringing 70 thousand new jobs and 21 billion in capital investment to Texas over the years since its founding. Glenn was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Southern Illinois University in 2004, giving the commencement address and using the recognition to found a Center for Innovation, bringing together talented individuals from across the University and business communities to collaborate on commercialization of new technologies. As an opportunity for Glenn to apply his technology industry and business development expertise to his home state, the Center was partnered with the Office of Research Development and Technology Transfer, the Southern Illinois Research Park, the Illinois Small Business Development Center, the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center, the Small Business Incubator, the colleges of science and engineering, the School of Law and of the School of Art and Design. In 2005, Glenn was instrumental in facilitating the passage of Texas state legislation for a $400 million Texas Certified Capital Company (CAPCO) program. He founded and served as the Managing Member of the LoneStar CAPCO Fund from 2004 to 2008. He also served as a Director of Green St. Energy (formerly M-Wave) from 2005 to 2008. For many years, Glenn served as a judge in the Rice Business Plan Competition – the richest and largest graduate-level student startup competition in the world. Glenn worked to further university tech transfer and was involved with AUTM (Association of University Technology Managers). He was also a long-time active member of IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering). Glenn's final company formation was Totus Solutions, the leading provider of outdoor lighting based security platforms. Winning numerous "best in show" awards for their new product innovation, Glenn served as Executive Chairman from founding in 2009 until September 2013. Beyond his distinguished career, Glenn will best be remembered for his immense loyalty and love of family and friends. Glenn adored his children Stefanie Lela and Alexander, and his step-daughter Alexandria. He treasured his time with them – moments that included cuddling on the couch watching old westerns with his first born Stefanie Lela, Boy Scout camping and troop activities with Alexander, and countless Saturday morning soccer games with Alexandria. His relationship with his beloved sister Deborah grew stronger over the years. Their weekly phone calls were an anchor for him. Glenn was dearly in love with his wife Zoe, and with the life and family they shared. One of his greatest joys was time spent at home or traveling the world with his "bride" and truly enjoying the company of their combined extended family. Whether cooking Thanksgiving dinner with family in upstate New York, visiting beloved life-long friends in the south of France, or returning home every July to the Morgan Family Reunion in Mt. Zion, Illinois-Glenn was always the consummate host and most welcome guest, bringing people together with his heartfelt good-natured humor, excellent taste in wine, and genuine love of people. Glenn elevated the experience of those fortunate enough to be with him (and even in his last days hosted an impromptu party, insisting on bringing out the "good wine"). He will be missed by all who knew him and shared the joy of his presence. Glenn lived a vibrant and full life, and was gone far too soon for those who loved him so very much. Glenn is survived by his wife, Zoe Adams; children; Stefanie Lela Norem and Alexander Norem; step-daughter Alexandria Yaxley; mother Barbara Norem and father Martin Norem; brothers Roger Norem of Decatur, Illinois, Craig Norem, of Decatur, Illinois, Mark Norem of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and Deborah Smith of Decatur, Illinois. The family has chosen to support the fight against pancreatic cancer. Typically one hears that pancreatic cancer is a rare cancer, however we have been amazed to learn that many people we know have lost a loved one to pancreatic cancer. Report projections indicate that by 2020, pancreatic cancer will move from the nation's fourth to the second leading cause of cancer death. The fact that this cancer is not further along in research is inexcusable. More awareness and scientific research are desperately needed. Memorial donations can be made in memory of Glenn Norem. Specifically the organization we have chosen to support is the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network because they are the national leader in the fight against pancreatic cancer. If a donation is made in the form of a check, it can be made payable to the "Pancreatic Cancer Action Network", and mailed to: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. On the memo line, please note "In Memory of Glenn Norem". Donations will also be accepted on the organization's website at www.pancan.org under the "donate" tab or by calling their office at 877-272-6226. Please indicate the donation is in honor of Glenn Norem. A memorial service to celebrate Glenn's life will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, April 5, 2014, in Elwin United Methodist Church with Reverend Randy McGeehan officiating. The family will begin receiving friends at 10:00 A.M. until service time for visitation. Inurnment will follow at North Fork Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Macon County Honor Guard. Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Mt. Zion is assisting the family with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com.