INNOVATE® Georgia

Innovations of the World

INNOVATE® Georgia

Introducing INNOVATE® Georgia: A Chronicle of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Nestled in the heart of the United States, Georgia radiates a vibrant spirit of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial drive. We are thrilled to unveil the inaugural edition of INNOVATE® Georgia, an ode to the resounding ingenuity that shapes the state’s innovation landscape. As an illustrious addition to our esteemed Innovations of the World series, this book serves as a captivating gateway to explore the dynamic realm where Georgia’s pioneering essence flourishes.

From the bustling metropolises of Atlanta to the serene countryside, INNOVATE® Georgia embarks on a journey through the narratives that define the state’s innovation saga. Within these pages, you’ll encounter the architects of change, the thought leaders who defy conventions, and the trailblazers who have solidified Georgia’s standing as a nexus of innovation and entrepreneurship.

This anthology commemorates Georgia’s remarkable ability to infuse innovation into every facet of its identity. It unveils the visionaries and innovators who have orchestrated groundbreaking advancements across a spectrum of industries, from technology to healthcare and beyond. Each narrative encapsulates the determination and tenacity that have become synonymous with Georgia’s innovative landscape.

As a chapter within the revered Innovations of the World series, INNOVATE® Georgia is a testament to the state’s unwavering spirit of progress. It encapsulates Georgia’s knack for embracing change, its resilience in the face of challenges, and its dedication to carving new pathways. This volume stands as a salute to the luminaries who have elevated Georgia’s status on the global stage, fostering an environment where innovation flourishes and creativity knows no limits.

Within these pages, you are invited to embark on a journey that traverses Georgia’s landscapes—both geographical and intellectual. It unveils the brilliance that has propelled Georgia forward, from its historical roots to the frontiers of the future. As you delve into the narratives, you’ll witness how Georgia’s visionary minds have transformed adversity into opportunity, cultivating an ecosystem where innovation thrives and creativity blooms.

Join us as we shine a spotlight on the architects of innovation—those who have shaped Georgia’s trajectory and propelled it toward a future defined by brilliance. INNOVATE® Georgia beckons you to delve into a world where tradition intertwines with innovation, where the past merges with the present, and where Georgia’s vibrant spirit propels it into a future illuminated by ingenious accomplishments. Step into the captivating realm of Georgian innovation!

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Innovators

Featured Innovators

QTS

THE BACKBONE OF OUR MODERN ECONOMY

QTS Data Centers is a leading provider of data center solutions across a diverse footprint with over two gigawatts of critical power capacity under customer contract in North America and Europe. Part of the Blackstone portfolio, QTS delivers secure, compliant infrastructure solutions, robust connectivity and premium customer service to leading...

DATUM TECHNOLOGIES GROUP

DATUM DEFINES, DEVELOPS, AND DELIVERS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT BUSINESS NEEDS.

The company had a vision in 1996 to name it Datum Software, aka, Datum Technologies Group, well before “data” became a very common word in everyone’s vocabulary. Under Datum, we have three global brands—Innovations, Government, and Vela—committed to trust, transparency, and excellence. Datum is certified as a woman-owned and minority-owned...

CANTALOUPE

REVOLUTIONIZING SELF-SERVICE: EMPOWERING CUSTOMERS TO BUY IT AND GO

“We are seeing a huge surge in consumer demand for cashless and contactless payment options” As consumer demands evolve and the world embraces self-service as a means of fast, convenient, and secure transactions, Cantaloupe, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTLP), a leading provider of end-to-end technology solutions for self-service commerce, stands at the...

SLALOM

A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE: SLALOM’S PURSUIT OF A BETTER TOMORROW FOR ALL

Better tomorrows, together. That’s the future that Slalom, a next generation professional services company, is striving to build with its customers. For Slalom, better tomorrows are found at the intersection of business, technology, and humanity. This might mean developing a data hub that accelerates research for childhood brain cancer, launching...

CLAYTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

LEADING ECONOMIC GROWTH: CLAYTON COUNTY’S THRIVING STORY

Nestled within the heart of Georgia lies Clayton County, a burgeoning economic powerhouse fueled by innovation, diversity, and strategic development initiatives. Under the stewardship of the Clayton County Board of Commissioners, the Office of Economic Development stands as a beacon of excellence, garnering prestigious accolades from the International Economic Development...

CMII GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY

UNLEASHING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

At the heart of Georgia State University lies the Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII), a beacon of innovation and creativity in the bustling landscape of Georgia’s entertainment and creative economy. Established with the vision to empower students to carve successful careers in the creative industry, CMII stands as a pivotal...

NEEDLING WORLDWIDE

WE ULTIMATELY STRIVE TO BECOME MORE ROBUST, SUPERIOR, AND MORE ASTUTE IN OUR OPERATIONS.

WHO IS NEEDLING WORLDWIDE:Needling Worldwide was established to address a common challenge encountered by numerous companies in their pursuit of certifications or compliance assessments. The CEO envisioned a superior solution based on her firsthand experiences with compliance standards and frameworks. This solution is comprised of a standardized, flat-fee alternative to...

CGI

AI without fear or favor

Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world. We are insights-driven and outcomes-based to help accelerate returns on your investments. Across 21 industry sectors in 400 locations worldwide, our 90,000 professionals provide comprehensive, scalable, and sustainable IT and business consulting services...

EMORY

FOSTERING INNOVATION FOR A DATA AND TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN WORLD

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School is a top-20 ranked business school. Emory University’s Goizueta Business School is a top-ranked driving force for change. In a vibrant global city, it prepares the future’s brightest minds principled leaders who believe in equitable business practices, constant innovation, and the critical intersection of business...

REPAY

ATLANTA’S REPAY REVAMPS PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE ADVANTAGES FOR CONSUMERS & BUSINESSES

History & PurposeREPAY was founded in 2006 by John Morris and Shaler Alias with the goal of providing fast, frictionless, and fail-safe integrated payment processing solutions for consumers and businesses. Morris serves as REPAY’s CEO to this day, and Alias co-leads as president from the company’s headquarters in Atlanta. REPAY’s...

FASTTEK GLOBAL

LEADERSHIP SETS THE TONE

In 2003, Carey Pachla joined Fast Switch, Ltd.; essentially, a start-up at the time. Over 16 years, she built the division she started into a best-in-class and purpose-driven organization with hundreds of team members servicing multiple organizations, which range in size from Fortune Top 10 to mid-size and start-up organizations....

Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)

We Are At The Forefront Of Efforts To Bridge The Skills Gap By Offering Programs That Are Closely Aligned With Industry Demands.

With 22 colleges and 88 campuses across Georgia, The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) provides quality technical education for more than 148,000 students (AY24). Founded on the principles of accessibility, affordability, and excellence in postsecondary education, TCSG has consistently played a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape of...

DAUGHERTY BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

WE PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL VALUE TO OUR CLIENTS, AN INCREDIBLE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY.

Ranked 5th in the nation by USA Today’s Top Workplaces USA, Daugherty Business Solutions is a leading advisory services and technology consulting firm. Founded by Ron and Jan Daugherty, the company currently employs over 1,500 consultants worldwide with a focus on AI, tech modernization, and business agility. For over 40...

SOUTHERN COMPANY

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF ENERGY

Plant Vogtle, co-owned and operated by Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power, is the largest producer of carbon-free energy in the United States. Southern Company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to customers and communities, through its electric utilities in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a...

CORESITE

EMPOWERING A MORE CONNECTED FUTURE

CoreSite probably is a part of your life today. As a colocation data center provider, CoreSite and its partners deliver services that shape how we live, work and play, creating the “intersection of interconnection” that helps empower modern digital life. CoreSite started in 2001 as CRG West, a portfolio company...

ACKERMAN & CO

A BOLD APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT

Just two miles southwest of Downtown Atlanta is a sprawling collection of buildings formerly known as “Warehouse Row.” In the 1950s and 1960s, the warehouse buildings were developed to serve as a distribution hub for area grocery stores. Today, the buildings have been transformed into something much different. In the...

BEAZER HOMES - LET'S BUILD YOUR FUTURE

LEADING INNOVATION IN HOMEBUILDING

Since 1985, Beazer Homes has earned a reputation for quality and innovation in the homebuilding industry. Established by Brian Beazer, the company has evolved from its British roots to become a leading force in American homebuilding, standing as a testament to nine generations of craftsmanship. Beazer Homes builds nationwide while...

EQUIFAX

INNOVATION AT EQUIFAX

As a global data, analytics, and technology company, Equifax recognizes the importance of exploration and innovation. Equifax plays an important role in the lives of consumers, and its focus on innovation and driving greater financial inclusion is a part of a commitment to creating a positive impact on people’s personal...

CONSUME MEDIA

AT THE CORE OF OUR SUCCESS LIES OUR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION.

Consume Media is a dynamic video marketing agency striving to push the boundaries of innovation and creativity in the video industry. Leo Falkenstein and Michael Rosenberg founded Consume Media in 2012 during their time as ambitious students at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. What began as a humble...

SCIENTIFIC GAMES

THE WORLD’S LARGEST LOTTERY GAMES COMPANY ATLANTA-BASED INNOVATOR POWERS THE GLOBAL GOVERNMENT-REGULATED LOTTERY INDUSTRY

More than 50 years of relentless innovation. Legendary performance. Unwavering security. And trusted partnerships. All built on a foundation of science. Since 1973, Scientific Games has integrated science into everything the company does. Its founders – a mathematician and an engineer – developed the world’s first secure lottery instant “scratch”...

SENTINEL DEVICES

REDUCE YOUR DOWNTIME / PROTECT YOUR DATA

The world relies on critical infrastructure. Water, power, manufacturing – all are incredibly important to our everyday lives, affecting how we live, how we play, and how we function as a society. Some of these systems are connected to the internet, delivering efficiencies and improvements by unleashing the power of...

7FACTOR

BUILDING GOOD THINGS RIGHT, THE FIRST TIME, TAKES THOUGHTFUL INTENTION.

7Factor Software was founded on human-centric principles held fiercely true at every step in their work to design, develop, deploy, and maintain well-engineered software solutions for tech-forward enterprises and ambitious start-ups with great ideas and a commitment to quality. They tackle their clients’ most unique problems, empowering them to seize...

BROOKSOURCE

A RELATIONSHIP-FOCUSED APPROACH TO BUILDING THE FUTURE OF TECH & GEORGIA!

Since 2000, Brooksource has established lasting relationships with its clients, consultants, and the Atlanta community to deliver unparalleled experiences. Brooksource is a trusted services provider that specializes in delivering Engineering and IT initiatives for Fortune 500 organizations and the public sector through Experience-Driven Staffing, Professional Services, and its Workforce Transformation...

AWARE FORCE

CYBERSECURITY TRAINING AND AWARENESS

“Cybersecurity is a priority for virtually every organization in the world. Job #1 is engaging your workforce in cyber safety with interesting, relevant content because employees represent the biggest attack surface of all. Aware Force accomplishes that in innovative ways that no other companies can match.”– Richard Warner, Aware Force...

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The Publisher

Glen Edwards

Glen Edwards was born and raised in Philadelphia. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University and served in the United States Marine Corps Services. For the next 10 years, Glen worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer in Philadelphia, counseling underprivileged children in North and West Philadelphia. In 1983, Glen left the court and went to work... click to read more

Other Ecosystems