• Earned bachelor’s degree from KU School of Business, 1973
• KU School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, 2005

Cliff W. Illig is the co-founder of healthcare IT services company Cerner. Illig previously served as chief operating officer until October 1998, as president until March 1999, and vice chairman of the board until January 2019.

Illig served as the initial force behind Cerner’s internal operations, including its leading-edge communication and information systems technology, client service methodologies, and sales and marketing strategies.

Illig is a co-owner of Kansas City’s Major League Soccer franchise, Sporting KC. He is also a former vice chairman of the Stowers Institute board of directors.

In 1991, the Ernst & Young accounting firm honored Cliff and Neal Patterson as Entrepreneurs of the Year. In 2005, Illig was honored with the KU School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award.

Prior to co-founding Cerner in 1979, he was a system consultant and manager with Arthur Andersen & Co. in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from KU with a degree in accounting and business administration.