By Maria Saporta
Two stellar business leaders – Tyler Perry and Jeff Sprecher – will be inducted into the JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame on Feb. 22, 2020.
Perry is the owner of Tyler Perry Studios at Fort McPherson as well as an actor, filmmaker and philanthropist.
Sprecher is the founder, chairman and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) as well as chairman of the New York Stock Exchange.
Junior Achievement of Georgia will be celebrating its 31st JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame, a black-tie gala that is held to honor influential business and civic leaders who have shaped the Atlanta of today. The two Atlanta business leaders will join a group of 95 influential Atlantans who have been recognized for their significant contributions to the local economy and community.
From his humble beginnings in New Orleans, Tyler Perry’s media, entertainment and philanthropic persona has become synonymous with Atlanta since the founding of Tyler Perry Studios in 2006.
Perry, who prefers having a private profile, is the mastermind behind over 20 feature films, two dozen stage plays, nine television shows and two New York Times bestselling books. He has built an empire that has attracted audiences in Atlanta and throughout the world. Perry is celebrated as being in the pantheon of today’s greatest cinematic innovators. His unique blend of spiritual hope and down-home humor continues to shape his inspiring life story. Perry’s impact on the economic landscape and overall well-being of Atlanta has only just begun.
Sprecher’s career in the financial marketplace space began nearly two decades ago upon the creation of ICE, which he based in Atlanta.
Under his leadership, ICE has evolved from operating an energy market to a network of exchanges. This includes the NYSE clearing houses and information services that customers rely upon to invest, trade and manage risk across global financial and commodity markets.
In addition to notable acquisitions and growth within the company, Sprecher has been continually recognized for his leadership and impact with awards from the Wall Street Journal and Fortune. He also has been on Barron’s list of 30 World’s Best CEOs since 2014.
Sprecher is a past chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and he currently serves on its executive committee. Sprecher also serves as a University of Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Trustee; and he is on the board of the Buckhead Coalition, the Commerce Club and the Atlanta Committee for Progress.
The JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame will be held at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead. It will feature a cocktail reception, silent auction, seated dinner and Laureate Induction Ceremony. Proceeds from the event will benefit JA of Georgia and its efforts to empower the next generation with the tools to create a better future for themselves and their community. To learn more, visit http://www.georgia.ja.org/hall-of-fame.
