Dr. Hector Ruiz speaks at Eagle Pass Public Library Foundation reception
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
Copyright 2013 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
World-renowned computer microchip engineer and executive, Dr. Hector de Jesus Ruiz, discussed his book titled “Slingshot: AMD’s Fight to Free An Industry From the Ruthless Grip of Intel” at an Eagle Pass Public Library Foundation reception in his honor on Tuesday, November 19, 2013, at the Commissioners Courtroom at the Maverick County Courthouse in Eagle Pass, Texas. Over 30 persons attended the meet and greet event with Dr. Hector de Jesus Ruiz.
Eagle Pass High School Class of 1964 classmate, David J. Castaneda, introduced Dr. Hector de Jesus Ruiz to the audience as a humble, honest, and extremely intelligent classmate who has made significant contributions in the computer microchip industry and corporate world as an electrical engineer and Chief Executive Officer at Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) and other high-technology companies in the United States.
Dr. Ruiz acknowledged his return to Eagle Pass with nostalgia because he “owes so much to Eagle Pass and Eagle Pass High School and its people because so much of what he learned and who he is was influenced by his experiences in Eagle Pass.” Dr. Ruiz thanked his fellow Eagle Pass High School Class of 1964 classmates who were in attendance at the reception and stated he looked forward to joining them next year at their 50th year class reunion. Earlier in the day, Dr. Ruiz spoke to Eagle Pass High School students and shared his wisdom and knowledge that he has gained in the computer technology and business world.
Dr. Ruiz focused his speech on three themes detailed in his new book “Slingshot,” being the importance of fair competition in society, the high technology industry and corporate world, the importance of a business understanding its customers and their needs and wants, and how his experience at Eagle Pass High School and Eagle Pass shaped him into the person that he is today.
Dr. Ruiz stated that for society to have innovation requires that there be fair competition in society. Dr. Ruiz told the audience that his success as a world-class CEO was an accident in that he always did his best in every position he was placed in and he was recognized for doing so well that he was promoted to the next level, then the next level, and the rest is history. Dr. Ruiz opined that when he became CEO of AMD he focused on innovation at the company leading to the invention at the time of the 64 bit microchip while the competition was manufacturing the 32 bit chip. Dr. Ruiz added that the competition such as Intel was too busy trying to destroy the competition that they did not realize that the business was moving away to a more mobile technology such as cell phones and tablets. Dr. Ruiz stated that Intel’s future may not survive the mobile technology as they are trying to catch up to it while Apple focused on the mobile technology and is now the largest high technology company. Dr. Ruiz reiterated that in order for society to foster innovation there must be fair competition in the business world.
Another theme presented by Dr. Ruiz was the importance of a business understanding its customers and their needs and wants. Dr. Ruiz stated that too many businesses focus on beating the competition instead of knowing its customers and their needs. He added that if the leading business is wrong with its products, so will the competition because they are too busy trying to beat the competition and be like them. Instead, Dr. Ruiz stated, businesses should focus on understanding its customers and then develop the products that the consumers want and need such as in the case of mobile technology. He stated that he now uses his smart cell phone and a tablet to conduct and transact most of his business that he seldom uses a computer anymore. Dr. Ruiz noted how major computer companies like Dell failed to understand their customers and suffered in their sales while Apple rose from almost going out of business to becoming the largest and most successful high technology company today.
Dr. Ruiz also presented several personal experiences while he was a student at Eagle Pass High School that helped to make him into the person he is today. For example, Dr. Ruiz recalled that when he registered at Eagle Pass High School his student advisor told him that he did not think Ruiz could handle the classes that he had registered for and should consider taking building trades or other vocational courses. Ruiz decided to keep his classes that he had registered for instead of taking the vocational classes suggested by his advisor. Had he not taken the academic classes, Dr. Ruiz believes that he would not have been the person that he is today. He also recalled how his Chemistry teacher, Mr. Howard, helped him get after school tutoring with his English teacher, Mr. Rubio, after failing his first English test and going on to make an “A” in English. Dr. Ruiz went on to graduate as one of three Valedictorians in the Class of 1964 at Eagle Pass High School, earning a scholarship to attend the University of Texas at Austin. He also recalled working at the former M. Riskind’s Department Store after graduating from high school and before attending the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Ruiz recalled how Mr. Morris Riskind was very strict at work but taught him one had to work very hard to become successful. He recalled one incident at the store where a customer discriminated him and Mr. Riskind stepped-in and asked the customer to leave his store immediately.
The future of computer/high technology is very bright and exciting as many new innovations are forthcoming such as cognitive technology and robotics, said Dr. Ruiz. He stated that more American students should consider science and technology careers as the future demands it
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