Business Lessons From My Six Careers

Former Scientific Atlanta Executive Vice President Allen Ecker will speak at Georgia Tech's IMPACT Speaker Series on October 29, 2014. All are welcome to attend.  

Background on Dr. Ecker: 

In more than three decades with Scientific Atlanta, H. Allen Ecker EE 1957, MSEE 1958, became a leader in the telecommunications industry.  He joined the company, now part of Cisco, in 1976 and has held a number of executive positions leading up to Executive Vice President.  In that role, he worked with the Chairman and CEO  to develop the company’s growth strategy in the telecom industry and provide  leadership in the implementation of that strategy.

Prior to joining Scientific Atlanta, Allen earned  BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech, a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Ohio State University in 1965, was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, and was a Lab Director at the Georgia Tech EES now the Georgia Tech Research Institute.

Ecker was named Innovator of the Year by Southeastern Cable Television Association in 1995; he received an Award for Leadership in Interactive Television from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association in 2004; he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for Innovation by the Atlanta Telecom Professionals in 2005. In 2010, he received the honor of  induction into the National Cable Hall Of Fame .

As a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, he has chaired numerous industry technical and standards committees.  His  service to the state of Georgia includes membership on the Georgia Information Technology Policy Council and Chairman of the Georgia Radio Communication Committee and Chairman of the Board for the Georgia Center for Advanced Telecommunications Technology (GCATT). In 1999, he was the inductee into the Technology Hall of Fame of Georgia . He currently serves on the Board of the Marcus Autism Center.

While a student at Georgia Tech, he was a leader in the Air Force ROTC, T-Club, Ramblin’ Wreck Club and was Vice President of Sigma Chi.  He was elected to honorary and leadership societies Phi Eta Sigma, Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa.  In football he was selected on  All America, Academic All America and All SEC teams.  In 2007, he received the Georgia Tech AA Total Person Former Student-Athlete Award.

Ecker  has been inducted into the Engineering Hall of Fame and the Athletic Hall of Fame at Georgia Tech and  received Georgia Tech's highest Alumni Award, the Joseph Mayo Petit Distinguished Service Award. He has remained active as an alumnus, serving as a trustee of Georgia Tech Foundation, and co-chair of the Class of 1957 40th and 50th reunion committees.  He is a former member of the Alexander Tharpe Fund Board and the Georgia Tech Alumni Association Board. In addition to the Georgia Tech Foundation Board, he currently serves on the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and School of Electrical and Computer Engineering external advisory boards. In 2014, he was honored on the House floor of  the  Georgia Legislature with House Resolution 1124 recognizing  his lifetime achievements and many contributions to economic development in Georgia.

Dr. Ecker and his wife, Sandra established endowed scholarships on campus for the women’s and men’s tennis teams.  He has also promoted growth in academics and research at Georgia Tech with contributions to support the Molecular Science and Engineering Building, the ECE School and Telehealth research at GTRI.  

About the Impact Speaker Series:

Since 2002, the IMPACT Speaker Series has brought highly successful business leaders from a variety of industries to campus to share their experiences and give advice to students and other entrepreneurs on topics ranging from "building a venture around intellectual capital" to "successful entrepreneurship in large organizations" and "socially responsible leadership". The weekly series provides Georgia Tech students, alumni and the Atlanta business community an opportunity to network and learn from successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and notable business and non-profit leaders.

The series is free and open to the public, and reservations are not required.