{"672815":{"#nid":"672815","#data":{"type":"news","title":"IE Ramblin\u2019 Companions: Marie and Ken Klaer ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EKen Klaer\u2019s journey through Georgia Tech not only shaped his career but also led to a lifelong connection that began within the \u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EInstitute\u2019s\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E vibrant community.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIt was during his time at Georgia Tech that Ken first crossed paths with his future wife, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/marie-klaer-3684876\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/marie-klaer-3684876\u0022\u003EMarie\u003C\/a\u003E, at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ChiPhiatGaTech\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ChiPhiatGaTech\/\u0022\u003EChi Phi fraternity\u003C\/a\u003E house. Their relationship blossomed amidst the backdrop of football games and shared academic pursuits, laying the foundation for a love story that has endured over four decades.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EKlaer, IE 1981, is chair of the ISyE Advisory Board, executive vice president of Comcast Cable, and president of Comcast Technology Solutions. He shared some recollections about his on-campus romance with Marie.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EQ: How did you first connect with your Georgia Tech \u0022love\u0022\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EA:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E We first crossed paths at the Chi Phi fraternity house where Marie held the title of sweetheart and was dating an older \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Efraternity \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Ebrot\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eher.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EQ: Can you share a memorable moment that defines your relationship within the Georgia Tech community?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EA: \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EOne significant memory stands out when I managed to secure \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Traditions_of_the_Georgia_Institute_of_Technology\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eflash card seats\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E, convincing Marie to join me at a Jackets football game. These seats were prime, right on the 50-yard line, the envy of every student. Initially hesitant, Marie reluctantly agreed, thinking of it as just a friendly outing. But as they say, the rest is history.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EQ: In what ways has this connection positively \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eimpacted\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E your Georgia Tech experience or life journey?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EA: \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EOur bond formed at Georgia Tech has been the cornerstone of our lives.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E Celebrating 43+ years of marriage, we cherish the memories of falling in love during our time at GT. Without this connection, our paths might never have crossed.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EQ: Are there any unique or quirky aspects of your relationship that \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eyou\u0027d\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E like to highlight?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EA:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E I happily admit to marrying someone much smarter than myself\u2014Marie\u0027s academic achievements certainly surpassed mine. Her guidance and proactive nature redirected my career path during our college days. Despite having accepted a job in the auto parts industry, a call from \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Scientific_Atlanta\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EScientific-Atlanta\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E prompted Marie to encourage me to reconsider. This decision led me into a fulfilling career in the telecommunications sector.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EQ: What advice would you give to others seeking meaningful connections within the Georgia Tech community?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EA: \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EOur advice echoes the principle of paying it forward.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E Georgia Tech provided the foundation for much of our success, and we strive to stay connected and involved. Serving on advisory boards and \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eparticipating\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E in mentorship programs like \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/news\/newly-launched-menties-program-connects-isye-undergraduates-and-alumni\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMentIE\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E allows us to contribute while continuing to learn and grow.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E--\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIE \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ERamblin\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0027 Companions is a captivating Q\u0026amp;A series created by Nat M. Esparza \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eshowcasing\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E the love stories of couples who discovered their special connection within the world of Industrial Engineering at Georgia Tech. Through insightful interviews, personal \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eanecdotes\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E and candid conversations it illuminates the diverse paths and heartfelt experiences of these couples, celebrating the intersection of love and academia in the Institute\u0027s community.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAuthor: Nat M. Esparza\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EKen Klaer\u0027s journey through Georgia Tech not only shaped his career but also led to a lifelong connection that began within the university\u0027s vibrant community. It was during his time at Georgia Tech that Ken first crossed paths with his future wife, Marie, at the Chi Phi fraternity house where she held the title of sweetheart.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"From Flash Card Seats to Forever "}],"uid":"36481","created_gmt":"2024-02-07 19:14:24","changed_gmt":"2024-02-13 17:25:40","author":"nesparza7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-02-07T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-02-07T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673002":{"id":"673002","type":"image","title":"The Klaer\u0027s","body":null,"created":"1707333164","gmt_created":"2024-02-07 19:12:44","changed":"1707333215","gmt_changed":"2024-02-07 19:13:35","alt":"The Klaer\u0027s","file":{"fid":"256342","name":"Klaer\u0027s.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/02\/07\/Klaer%27s.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/02\/07\/Klaer%27s.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1243917,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/02\/07\/Klaer%27s.png?itok=uB4YgOGH"}}},"media_ids":["673002"],"groups":[{"id":"1242","name":"School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISYE)"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}