Karen Cashion

Karen Cashion is CEO of Tech Alpharetta, which was created by the City of Alpharetta in 2012 and is now a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization. Tech Alpharetta’s mission is to help grow technology and innovation in Alpharetta. In addition to its strategic advisory board, Tech Alpharetta runs a thriving tech startup incubator in Alpharetta, and hosts tech thought leadership events for tech executives.

Karen is also the founder, Chairperson, and past president of the Greater Alpharetta Tech Network (“GATN”), a 501(c)6 organization, which she formed in 2013 in order to provide the Greater Alpharetta technology community with locally-based tech thought leadership, educational, and networking events. GATN merged into Tech Alpharetta as of January 1, 2018.

Karen is an attorney with twenty years of experience as a commercial litigator and corporate technology lawyer. Karen began her career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York City, and in addition to law firm practice, has served as Assistant General Counsel for EarthLink and Legal Counsel, Global Technology for Travelport, LP in Atlanta.

Karen received her J.D. with high honors from Duke University School of Law, where she served as Senior Editor of the Law & Contemporary Problems Journal. Karen received her Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, from Emory University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

Karen has served as a Commissioner on the City of Alpharetta’s Planning Commission, is a graduate of Leadership North Fulton, and is a graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the North Fulton Bar Association.  Karen currently serves on the Advisory Board for the University of North Georgia’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and on the Advisory Board for Vinings Bank.  Karen and her husband and two children are longtime residents of the city of Alpharetta.