Technology Association of Georgia to Honor Claire “Yum” Arnold with Lifetime Achievement Award at 2026 Chairs’ Gala

ATLANTA - November 3, 2026 - The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) will honor Claire "Yum" Arnold, co-founder and Executive Chair of Leapfrog, with its Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 TAG Chairs' Gala on Thursday, November 19, at Hotel Phoenix.

The award recognizes Arnold's distinguished career building businesses, guiding organizations and strengthening communities. Across corporate leadership, technology entrepreneurship and civic service, she has helped shape Georgia's business landscape while creating opportunities for others to succeed.

"Yum's influence reaches across Georgia's businesses, institutions and communities," said Larry K. Williams, President and CEO of TAG. "She has built companies, helped guide organizations that serve thousands of people and invested her time in the next generation of leaders. Her career demonstrates the lasting impact one person can have through vision, leadership and a commitment to others. We are proud to honor her with TAG's Lifetime Achievement Award."

Arnold co-founded Leapfrog in 1998 and today serves as its Executive Chair, contributing extensive experience in business development and long-range strategic planning. Her work reflects a commitment to helping organizations securely fulfill their missions through technology and attentive service.

Before founding Leapfrog, Arnold acquired a local consumer goods distributor through a leveraged buyout and spent 15 years building it into one of Georgia's five largest privately held companies. As CEO, she expanded the business from a single warehouse into a corporation with nine operating divisions. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly a decade with Coca-Cola USA in marketing, sales, sales management and long-range planning.

A longtime TAG board member, Arnold has helped lay the foundation for Georgia's connected technology community and continues to shape TAG's vision for its future.

Arnold's leadership extends across education, environmental sustainability, healthcare, the arts and economic opportunity. Her service includes board and advisory roles with organizations such as Spelman College, The Woodruff Arts Center, EARTH University Foundation and Emory's Brain Health Center. She also served as Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and has held leadership roles with Mary Baldwin College, Achieve Atlanta, The Georgia Conservancy, The Carter Center Board of Councilors and the Rotary Club of Atlanta.

A mentor to women in Atlanta's business community, Arnold has earned numerous honors for her leadership and service. These include the Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Atlanta Business Chronicle's Entrepreneur of the Year award, the Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Award for corporate director performance and Atlanta Business Chronicle's 2025 Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also recently inducted into the JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame.

With the theme "Vision in Focus," the 2026 TAG Chairs' Gala will celebrate the leaders and ideas advancing Georgia's innovation economy and the collective work behind Vision 2030: Georgia as a Global Hub of Innovation. The evening will also welcome special guest Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and honor Dr. Lonnie Johnson as the 2026 Mayor's Technology Leader of the Year.

For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit tagonline.org/events/signature-events/tag-chairs-gala/ or contact [email protected].

About the Technology Association of Georgia

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the state's largest technology association, connecting business, technology, government and education to advance Georgia's innovation economy. Through its four pillars - Connect, Promote, Influence and Educate - TAG builds relationships, elevates innovation, advocates for technology and prepares people for opportunity. Its Vision 2030 initiative advances Georgia as a global hub of innovation. Learn more at tagonline.org.