Aaron Moore's hand trembled as he presented his business card.

"As an engineer, I'm nervous meeting people," Moore said.

Moore graduated from Oregon State University in June 2007 and launched his two-man company, Revolution Robotics, a month later.

Moore and his business partner, OSU graduate Ben Tribelhorn, came to Willamette Innovators Night to network on Thursday evening, like hundreds of others in attendance.

"It's a phenomenal success," said Mark Van Patten, of OSU's College of Business. "It shows there's an awareness by the community that this is needed and a willingness to be a part of it."

In baseball caps, business suits and jeans and T-shirts, people traded tips and jokes over laptops, cell phones, hand-held plates of food and beverages.

Keynote speaker James Curleigh, 43, CEO of Keen Footwear in Portland, shared his ideas on innovation with a packed room of 200. Curleigh made the distinction between being an innovator and imitator, between creating the future and predicting it. He noted that all

innovation starts with a question. Emphasizing his company's philosophy of "Living a Hybrid Life," Curleigh sprinkled his speech with anecdotes and made-up words and definitions.

"We like to make up words at Keen because we're only six years old," Curleigh said. In Keen's world, innovation revolves around thinking and using resources creatively. Keen employees made office stools from recycled bike parts and old advertising banners. Scavenging, at times, propels product design, like Keen's new bags made from scraps of fabric headed for a landfill in China.

After the speech, students in yellow T-shirts moved through the outer circle of vendor displays.

"I came because I love engineering," said Paul Atkinson, a junior at Philomath High School and a member of the Philomath High Robotics Engineering Division.

"Nobody wants to go home," said Emily Dunham, a PHS senior and a member of PHRED."I came to represent my team and to learn about opportunities for myself."

In the center of the hall, a slightly older crowd gathered at the "Beer and Blog" tables, where modern social networking meets old-fashioned happy hour.

"It's the first three-city Beer-and-Blog event," said Michael Laport, from Peak Internet, noting the group had shuttled participants from Portland and Salem.

Hovering near the doorway outside the crowded hall, Moore made his way to Curleigh and told him his speech was inspiring.

"I want to aspire to where you're at," Moore said of Curleigh and Keen Footwear. "I really respect what you're about."

For the next 10 minutes, Curleigh regaled the young entrepreneurs with tales from his youth and offered advice and encouragement.

"Create the conditions for a defining moment," Curleigh said.