Sydney, Australia (September 10, 2007) – Jim Goodnight, CEO of business intelligence leader SAS, has been presented Inc. magazine’s Bernard A. Goldhirsh Award for Distinguished Alumni.

The Goldhirsh awards, created to honour Inc. magazine’s late founder, recognize leaders who have transformed America’s perception of the value and role of entrepreneurial business in the economy. The Distinguished Alumni award celebrates those companies that have gone on to achieve substantial success following their recognition on the Inc. 500 list. Previous recipients include John Tu and David Sun, founders of Kingston Technology. Additional categories include Courage, Entrepreneurial Advocacy, Innovation, Public Service, Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year and Lifetime Achievement. The awards ceremony was the crowning event of the Inc. 500 Conference, which was held Sept. 8 in Chicago.

Goodnight’s recipe for success began evolving in the early years of SAS, founded in 1976. The result is the software company that today is known worldwide for success and innovation, both in technology and in workplace practices. The two key ingredients of this recipe are customers and employees. From the beginning, customers have had a strong voice in the development of SAS solutions. Employees have enjoyed unprecedented benefits and the creative latitude to develop top-notch software for customers seeking information and answers from raw business data. These pieces come together to offer companies business intelligence solutions built into a comprehensive intelligence platform.

“We’re honoured to have Jim Goodnight recognized for his years of insight, creativity and dedication,” said Jeff Chambers, Vice President of Human Resources at SAS. “His novel approach to human relations and benefits, as well as his innovative approach to software development and customer care, has shaped the company into what it is today.”