ATLANTA, GA – January 28, 2019 – PwC announces that Chris Klaus, CEO of Kaneva, has been selected as the 2018 Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia inductee.
Klaus will be honored at the Technology Association of Georgia’s (TAG) The Summit event on February 12, 2019 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Sponsored by PwC since its inception in 1993, the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia includes a long list of visionaries, including: Georgia Gov. Zell Miller, technology industry icon Tom Noonan and CNN founder Ted Turner.
Klaus is a pioneering entrepreneur, delivering 3D virtual worlds as the founder and CEO of Kaneva. A long-standing partner and supporter of Georgia Tech, Klaus also invigorates the future of technology by supporting the school’s CREATE-X program, which gives students a platform to connect with industry leaders and receive the guidance, support—and capital—to launch their own startups.
“Chris Klaus’ innovative and entrepreneurial spirit has made a lasting impression on Georgia’s tech community that will positively impact future generations to come,” said Kevin Kelly, Managing Partner of PwC’s Atlanta office. “Chris embodies everything that the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia represents and it’s an honor to welcome him to the group this year.”
In 2000, Klaus responded to the need to help sustain the technology revolution, and with his pledged donation, Georgia Tech constructed the Christopher W. Klaus Advanced Computing Building, a three-story academic building (over 400,000 square feet of space) that houses a portion of its College of Computing, College of Engineering, and related programs.
Prior to founding Kaneva, Klaus founded and served as CTO of Internet Security Systems Inc. (ISS), a company he created in 1994, took public in 1998, and was acquired by IBM in 2006 for over $1.9 billion. He sits on the state’s Film, Video, and Music Advisory Commission. Klaus serves on the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Board of Visitors, the Georgia Game Developers Association (GGDA), the Georgia Tech Foundation, and the Georgia Tech College of Computing.
“I’m very honored to receive this recognition and award,” said Klaus. “I’ve been fortunate to work with so many dedicated leaders and innovators across Georgia’s bright and transformational technology ecosystem. I am most excited about the students I work with who, through their relentless brilliance, are forging an incredible path for the future of the technology industry. I’m privileged to be a part of making a way for their future as well.”
“Chris is such a key, visionary figure for Georgia’s technology ecosystem,” said Larry K. Williams, President and CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). “It is through the vision, drive and support of leaders like him that our technology community continues to thrive, grow, break barriers and set global industry trends.”
Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia
Each year an inductee is chosen by the current Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia members from a slate of nominees, in recognition of his or her contributions to the industry and impact on the state. Potential nominees are selected based on an individual’s impact on the technology industry in the state of Georgia, such as establishing and growing successful technology companies and organizations, job creation and economic impact, developing breakthrough technologies, innovation and entrepreneurship, etc. PwC has been a sponsor of the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia since its inception in 1993.
Previous inductees of the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia include:
Gov. George Busbee (1993)
Dennis C. Hayes (1993)
Dr. John E. Pippin (1993)
Glen P. Robinson, Jr. (1993)
John P. Imlay, Jr. (1994)
Parker H. Petit (1994)
Jacquelyn M. Ward (1994)
Bill Goodhew (1995)
Howard J. Morrison, Jr. (1995)
Leland Strange (1995)
James C. Edenfield (1996)
Richard K. Snelling (1996)
Gov. Zell Miller (1997)
Ben J. Dyer (1998)
Dr. H. Allen Ecker (1999)
Donald L. House (2000)
William J. Todd (2000)
Dr. Edward Roberts (2001)
Tycho Howle (2002)
Shirley Mewborn (2003)
Sid Topol (2003)
Charles D. Moseley (2004)
Charles “Garry” Betty (2005)
Said Mohammadioun (2005)
Tom Noonan (2006)
Sig Mosley (2007)
Wayne Clough (2008)
Ken Byers (2009)
Tripp Rackley (2010)
Wayne Hodges (2011)
Peter J. Kight (2011)
Dr. Raymond Schinazi (2011)
Jeff Arnold (2012)
Ted Turner (2013)
Alan Dabbiere (2014)
Jim Kennedy (2015)
Jeff Sprecher (2016)
Dr. Bud Peterson (2017)
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The Summit, designed to help fuel the innovation economy, will be held February 11-12, 2019 at Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta and is expected to draw more than 1,300 technology professionals, entrepreneurs and academic leaders.
The event will feature nationally recognized keynote speakers, 30 breakout sessions focusing on the most important global tech trends, winners of the Top 40 and Top 10 Innovative Georgia Companies competition, the newest inductee into the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia, networking opportunities, and a two-day exhibitor showcase.
About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
TAG is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 30,000 members through regional chapters in Metro Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Macon/Middle Georgia, and Savannah. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace to fuel the innovation economy.
The association provides networking and educational programs; celebrates Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. TAG hosts over 200 events each year and serves as an umbrella organization for 27 professional societies. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive.
For more information visit the TAG website at www.www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website atwww.hubga.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit http://www.tagedonline.org/.
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Media Contacts:
Julie Bryant Fisher, Technology Association of Georgia, (404) 920-2023, julie@www.tagonline.org
Chris Sedlak, PwC, (813) 695-9083, chris.sedlak@pwc.com
