Twelve Belmont students attended breakfast with Microsoft Chairman Steve Ballmer last Wednesday–and one took home a unique memento of the experience. Sponsored by the Nashville Technology Council (NTC) and held on the campus of Trevecca University, the breakfast is an annual event, held as an opportunity for NTC members to find out the direction the organization is taking in the coming year, to network with other members and to hear from world class speakers. This year’s crowd of around 900 included attendees ranging from CEOs and CIOs to project managers and developers to educators and students.
Before his prepared remarks, Ballmer took time to shake hands with each of the students. Belmont sophomore Jordan Bennett took the opportunity to ask Ballmer to autograph an unusual keepsake–his Apple Macintosh Macbook Pro. Ballmer rose to the occasion, signing his name right over the top of the Apple logo. Above his signature, he added the comment, “Need a new one?” The moment was caught on video and is circulating on YouTube with over 350,000 views to date. Click here to watch the video.
Bennett plans to keep his signed Macintosh for a long time. “Along with my Belmont diploma, my ‘Steve Ballmer’ experience through the Nashville Technology Council will definitely be on my resume… I am very confident of my future and ability to get my foot in the door with Microsoft–a company that I intend to work for very soon. I’m also in the market for a new laptop. I’ll let you know which Steve comes through!”