There has never been a more exciting time to be part of Georgia’s technology industry. Since our founding in 1998, the Technology Association of Georgia has made great strides to provide our members with the best resources available to both working and aspiring technologists. We are building our ecosystem together.
For more than a decade, Georgia has been named as the #1 best state to do business in. We are projected to create another 100,000 jobs in technology by 2033, bringing that number to nearly half a million full-time tech employees in Georgia.
Atlanta is the 6th largest metropolis now, ahead of D.C., Philadelphia, and other historic cities. Technology is at the center, enabling key pieces of industry that drive our great state. Our population has boomed from an estimated seven million residents to nearly 12 million people living in the Peach State.
TAG is more than a trade association – TAG is the innovation organization. Nowhere else in Georgia can you find this broad network spanning across industries and demographics dedicated to our innovative ecosystem.
We have come a long way in the past 25 years, and Georgia has taken its place as a global leader in technology. I am so excited about the future as I continue to see Georgia at the forefront of creating technologies and innovation that will continue to drive our economy.
In the past, it was people moving to where the jobs were located. Today in Georgia, we see companies moving to Georgia to create jobs here in the Peach State.
TAG is a nexus where professionals, the education system, and companies come together to engage with one another to advance Georgia’s vast innovation economy. TAG’s mission is to drive innovation among Georgia’s technology community, inspire tech leaders, and foster inclusivity through four foundational pillars – Connect, Promote, Influence, and Educate.
There is truly no other organization like this in Georgia with 30,000 members, multiple statewide chapters, 18 professional societies, and 150+ events each year. These numbers speak to the strength and vitality of the tech sector in our state, and we are thrilled to have you on this journey with us today to help further TAG’s mission.
There are five characteristics that make up a great innovation ecosystem. These attributes are present throughout Georgia and give us a competitive advantage:
- A diversified pool of companies ranging from Global Fortune 100 to SMEs and startups.
- Startup density, including accelerator programs, incubators, and co-working spaces.
- The presence of top-tier research universities, together with R&D centers.
- An appetite for strategic partnerships and collaborations.
- Active network and events involving corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and academic researchers.
TAG is dedicated to removing the walls impeding progress and diversity in Georgia through the strategic goals and initiatives developed by both TAG’s Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed) and Bridge Builders. We’re helping reskill and upskill Georgia’s workforce through our programs at TAG-Ed and Bridge Builders – and the opportunities are truly limitless.
TAG will continue to look to the future. We will have a continued focus on cybersecurity through the National Technology Security Coalition; work to expand access and opportunity for ALL in Georgia’s tech workforce through our Bridge Builder’s and Pathways to Leadership initiatives; work with partners around the state such as Georgia AIM, to grow the state’s workforce in AI and manufacturing, and so much more.
President & Chief Executive Office
In early 2024, TAG launched Georgia’s first Registered Technology Apprenticeship Program to help reskill and upskill our workforce. This is a program that I hope to see flourish in the next 25 years, as an increasing number of jobseekers want to launch their careers in technology but don’t have the traditional four-year college degree. At the same time, employers need to fill their tech talent pipeline.
This is my vision for TAG and TAG-Ed in the years to come – that we are an organization focused on continuous growth. We have already created innovative pathways for Georgians to enter the tech workforce, now it’s time to scale them. When it comes to leadership development, our programs are designed to have the greatest impact on organizations to be more inclusive.
TAG is already helping employers to be more proactive when it comes to workforce development and advancement, and providing tools to reskill and upskill their employees to help reduce attrition. I see TAG being the connector here, where anyone looking to break into technology, up-level their skills, or recruit the best talent can come to us.
Technology is a common factor that unites us all. As we are now facing the most transformative technological shift in our lifetime with the rapid rise of AI, it’s organizations like TAG that will bring people together to answer the demand for a skilled technical workforce.
It’s an exciting time to be a part of the technology ecosystem in Georgia and we are thrilled to showcase the innovations, innovators, and connectors. Our hope is that the pages of this book showcasing luminary companies in Georgia’s innovative industries will serve as inspiration.
On behalf of our entire TAG team, our Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and 30,000+ members, I hope you’ll join us in this good work and the years to come.
