Technology Association of Georgia Announces IntercontinentalExchange Founder, Chairman and CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher as Keynote Speaker for 2011 Excalibur Awards

Award-winning entrepreneur to share experiences of building the innovative, Georgia-based global market operator

ATLANTA, July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) today announced that Jeffrey C. Sprecher, founder, chairman and CEO of IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) will serve as keynote speaker at the seventh annual Excalibur Awards. He will share his insights about creating one of the country's fastest growing companies. The event will be held October 21, 2011, at 7:30 a.m. at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel, 2450 Galleria Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339.

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ICE is a leading operator of regulated futures exchanges and over-the-counter markets for agricultural, credit, currency, emissions, energy and equity index contracts. Its futures markets host trade in half of the world's crude and refined oil futures. ICE also is a leading operator of central clearing services for the futures and over-the-counter markets, with five regulated clearing houses across North America and Europe.  Under Sprecher's leadership, ICE grew from an entrepreneurial vision to provide more market transparency and has become a leading global exchange, with over 950 employees and serving customers in more than 70 countries.

"ICE is the perfect example of why Georgia is a global leader in financial technology," said Tino Mantella, president and CEO of TAG. "With its worldwide headquarters in Atlanta, and one-third of ICE's employees located here, Sprecher's cultivation of local talent and vision for creating innovative global market solutions demonstrates the leadership and resources we have here in financial technology."

Sprecher has achieved several accomplishments, including a designation as one of the 25 most influential people of 2010 by Futures magazine. Also, in 2010 the company was named as the fastest growing company in the Financial Services category by Fortune magazine. ICE shortlisted for Financial Times' 2011 ArcelorMittal Boldness in Business Awards in the Agents of Change category, along with Facebook and Apple. Sprecher was selected as a finalist in Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year program in 2002 and by MarketWatch as one of five finalists in the "MarketWatch CEO of the Year" program in 2006.

Earlier this week, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal praised the state's reputation as a financial technology hub; Georgia companies in this sector generate more than $34 billion in revenue each year. To learn more about where Georgia leads, search #WhereGAleads on www.twitter.com or visit www.wheregeorgialeads.com.

The Excalibur Awards recognize Georgia's technology-enabled companies that demonstrate exemplary competency in using technology to excel in their industry. The deadline for submitting nominations, which are welcome from all industries, is September 16, 2011. To nominate a company, visit http://www.tagonline.org/excnomination.php. Last year's winners included City of Marietta and Tech Exec Networks, Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group, Darton College and NCR.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 13,000 members and hosting over 170 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 30 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG's mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia's technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia's technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state's economic climate for technology. 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.tagonline.org or TAG's community website at www.TAGthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit http://www.tagedonline.org/.

Media Contact:
Becky Biggs
Technology Association of Georgia
[email protected]
(404) 920-2008

SOURCE Technology Association of Georgia