Ron Klein

Ron Klein’s background includes several different roles ranging from inventor, entrepreneur, CEO and engineer. His inventions are diverse and have impacted billions of people worldwide: (the magnetic card strip for credit cards, credit card validity checking system, Real Estate MLS, voice response for banking and BOND quotation and trade information system for the NYSE).

He was the founder and CEO of Technitrend, Inc., a public company which designed and manufactured data systems including a unique solution for a nutrition company that enabled the growth of healthier chickens in eight weeks, much less than the average growth cycle. Ron also founded General Associates. Inc. GA started by representing other company’s products in the field of data communications.  GA acquired and provided special teleprinters combined with acoustic couplers so that hearing impaired individuals could communicate with the hearing. He modified special teleprinters that would impregnate paper tape with the braille code, so that the visually impaired could read messages received over communication lines.

In 1979, General Associates began their relationship with the New York Stock Exchange. They established operations at NYSE at 11 Wall Street, providing special teletypewriter equipment needed to support the NYSE’s requirements for trading floor expansion.  They provided maintenance and service for trading floor operations and technical expertise in the area of hardware and software development. Their expertise and technical skills in the field of financial data systems and services earned Ron and his company tremendous credibility with NYSE and the financial community. In 1983, Ron developed a system to provide up to the minute bond quotation and trade information for the members of the NYSE and other financial institutions. It provided transparency and was operational for more than a quarter of a century. General Associates also provided the video display systems to the American Stock Exchange, Philadelphia Stock Exchange, New York Futures Exchange and New York COMEX.

To this day, Ron continues to invent and has developed a patent for a device called The Ident-Eye-Fier. It gives a visually impaired person the ability to identify a person or item when in physical range of that person or item. It utilizes a smartphone, camera glasses and an earpiece.

Ron is a graduate of Temple University with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He and his wife Arlene have two children, four grandchildren and reside in Sarasota, FL. Ron and Arlene are supporters of the Morris Animal Foundation.  Arlene serves on the Board of Trustees. MAF funds animal health studies for all species of animals.   Ron is a Senior Olympian bicyclist medal winner, and a sailing enthusiast.