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About Us
Dave Hitz - Chairman
As Chairman of the Hitz Foundation, Dave’s focus areas include Mayan archeology, 3D scanning of ancient sites and museum collections, and global sustainability. As chairman of Deep Springs College, Dave helped guide the transition to coeducation after 100 years of all-male enrollment. He co-founded Play On Shakespare, which is translating all of Shakespeare's plays into present-day, performable English. It has been called the single largest literary translation project since the King James Bible—and also “a waste of money and talent.”
In 1992, Dave co-founded NetApp, a Silicon Valley data management company. His roles included programmer, evangelist, architect, Executive VP of Engineering, cheerleader, strategist, and coach. Dave is an inventor on 29 patents. He wrote a book, How to Castrate a Bull: Unexpected Lessons on Risk, Growth, and Success in Business, about NetApp's journey from startup to Fortune 500. Dave is currently Founder Emeritus. Prior to NetApp, he worked for MIPS and Auspex.
Dave dropped out of high school. Nevertheless, he attended George Washington University, Swarthmore College, and Deep Springs College. After eight years as an undergraduate, he received a BSE in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from Princeton University. At Deep Springs College, Dave worked as a cowboy and learned to herd, brand, and castrate cattle.
Ken Hitz - President
Prior to working at the Hitz Foundation, Ken was a senior manager for Price Waterhouse Management Consulting specializing in system architecture and implementation. He also worked as the Director of Technology for Pru-One, a Hong Kong based internet bank.
Ken serves as the chairmen of the board of Play On Shakespeare, as well as serving on the boards of the Royal Shakespeare Company America, Global Digital Heritage, and the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund.
Additionally Ken has served on advisory boards for the Union of Concerned Scientists, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Inian Islands Institute.
Formerly Ken served on the boards of the Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies, Chamber Music San Francisco, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Ken holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's of business administration from Washington University in St. Louis.
Ken is the winemaker for Château d’Hitz winery in Los Altos Hills, California.
Jerre Hitz - Vice President
In retirement, Jerre is concentrating his global systems experience on the most complex, critical systems engineering problem of all: global sustainability.
Jerre serves on advisory boards for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Formerly Jerre served on the board of the Worldwatch Institute.
Jerre holds a master's degree in engineering from UCLA.
Jerre is a winemaker for Château d’Hitz winery and plays the piano.
