---
title: 'Silicon Forest Forum revs up the geek cred with Tesla founder, social media slot'
date: '2008-08-27T15:57:09-07:00'
type: post
word_count: 410
char_count: 2785
tokens: 533
categories:
  - Events
  - Oregon
  - Portland
  - SiliconForest
tags:
  - 'leander kaheny'
  - Oregon
  - Portland
  - 'silicon forest'
  - technologizer
---

# Silicon Forest Forum revs up the geek cred with Tesla founder, social media slot

[![Silicon Forest Forum](https://i0.wp.com/siliconflorist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/imgsiliconforestforum.gif?w=925)](http://www.siliconforestforum.com "Silicon Forest Forum")Now in its seventh year, the [Silicon Forest Forum](http://www.siliconforestforum.com "Silicon Forest Forum") has been one of the premiere local gatherings for venture capitalists and technology entrepreneurs to discuss the technologies that are driving development and businesses in the [Silicon Forest](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_Forest "Silicon Forest").

And while the event has always had a “technology” bent, its focus on traditional high-tech pursuits left its perceived “geek cred” a bit lacking, at best.

But this year, they’re clearly working to erase that deficit.

First, they’re bringing in the CTO and Co-founder of [Tesla Motors](http://teslamotors.com "Tesla Motors"), [Marc Tarpenning](http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=71633 "Marc Tarpenning"), to keynote the event. And I would have a hard time arguing that any other automotive company carries as much geek and green credibility as Tesla. (No word as to whether the [Tesla Roadster](http://www.teslamotors.com/design/under_the_skin.php "Tesla Roadster") will be making an appearance.)

Second, they’ve put social media on the docket with a panel entitled “Bloggers, Digital Media…..and the Business of Creating Content.” The panel features [Harry McCracken](http://technologizer.com/about/ "Harry McCracken"), the former editor of PC World who now runs [Technologizer](http://technologizer.com "Technologizer"), a blog that gives McCracken the freedom to exercise his journalistic muscle on technology topics of his choosing; [Leander Kaheny](http://www.wired.com/services/staff/ "Wired staff"), the news editor at [Wired.com](http://www.wired.com "Wired"); and maybe—just maybe—some local flavor.

The Silicon Forest Forum will be held at the [Intel Jones Farm Campus in Hillsboro](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2111+NE+25th+Avenue+Hillsboro+Oregon&sll=45.553126,-122.955551&sspn=0.071522,0.141792&ie=UTF8&ll=45.544771,-122.957354&spn=0.035766,0.070896&z=14&iwloc=addr "Intel Jones Farm") on Friday, September 12. [General registration is $125](http://www.siliconforestforum.com/2008/registration08.htm "Register for the SIlicon Forest Forum"). Members of the [SAO](http://sao.org "SAO") can register for $95. For more information, visit the [Silicon Forest Forum](http://www.siliconforestforum.com/2008/index08.htm "Silicon Forest Forum") or [RSVP on Upcoming](http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/953729/ "RSVP for Silicon Forest Forum").

*(Hat tip [Sean Sullivan](http://seansullivan.com "Sean Sullivan"))*