ATLANTA (January 13, 2012) -TAG Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed), the charitable organization established by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) that is dedicated to preparing the next-generation workforce through better education and real-life job experiences, today announced that Chris Reinking, partner and co-founder of Jabian Consulting, has been elected as chairman of the 2012 TAG-Ed board of directors. Kent Antley, an attorney with Miller & Martin, will continue another year in his role as secretary/treasurer for the board.

TAG-Ed has also added two new members to the 2012 board: Josh Bouk, senior vice president of Strategic Services for Veramark, Inc. and Phil Regnault, vice president of sales and marketing for the Oracle Solutions Practice. To see all members of the 2012 board, visit TAGEdonline.org.

“TAG-Ed is fortunate to have an incredible board of directors and we know our new leadership and new board members are energized to help us expand our programs to have an even greater impact on STEM Education in Georgia,” said Michael Robertson, executive director of TAG Education Collaborative.

Robertson added, “Over the past two years, under the leadership of outgoing chair Dan McDade, TAG-Ed nearly doubled our two signature programs: WEBChallenge and the High School Student Internship program. We also raised over $130,000 for STEM education in Georgia through our annual wine auction and fundraiser, The Vine Event.  As the new chairman, Chris will have big shoes to fill, but we are confident he is ready for the challenge.”

Chris Reinking has been an active member of the TAG-Ed board since 2009 and most recently served as chair of the Board Development committee.  He has been instrumental in TAG-Ed’s expansion and will provide the strategic leadership and direction for TAG-Ed’s newest program, TAG Education Link, which connects technology community volunteer efforts with STEM education initiatives.

“TAG-Ed programs address the critical talent shortage the technology industry is facing,” said Reinking. “I am proud to take the helm for an organization that is responding to this challenge with exciting ways to engage students in STEM subjects and help them understand the opportunities that are available for technology careers.”

Josh Bouk is new to the board and new to Georgia. Prior to relocating to the Atlanta area in June of 2011, Josh served as the president of Digital Rochester and on several NFP boards focused on improving education and quality of life for underprivileged children in western New York.  He holds two bachelor’s degrees (in Computer Science and Mathematics) from the State University of New York.

Also new to the board is Phil Regnault. Prior to Hitachi Consulting, Phil spent a combined eleven years at Oracle and Siebel Systems (which was acquired by Oracle in 2006). He holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he was recognized as a Seley Scholar, and earned a BA in International Relations from Tufts University.

For more information on TAG Education Collaborative programs and to learn more about the TAG Education Collaborative board visit www.tagedonline.org .

About TAG Education Collaborative

TAG Education Collaborative initiatives include a student internship program, the WebChallenge competition for high school students, and the Vine Event, a fundraiser launched in 2009 which has raised more than $160,000 to support STEM education.  The TAG Education Collaborative provides middle school and high school programs designed to provide these students with hands-on activities that enable them to gain an appreciation for the opportunities available in STEM careers. For additional information, visit TAG Education Collaborative.

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 https://www.tagedonline.org/.