Peter B. Giles

President and CEO of The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose

Spring 1962 Graduate

        Peter B. Giles, President and CEO of The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, has been an ambassador for Silicon Valley for the past 20 years. A visionary and insightful leader who has worked with industry, government and community groups, Giles has been an active voice and participant in Silicon Valley's efforts to maintain a high standard of living as well as innovative business - trademarks of this high-tech capital of the world.

        Since 1987, Giles has been President of the Tech, a cutting-edge institution of high technology, interactive exhibits that aim to inspire the innovator in everyone. Through exhibits, programs and activities, as well as a high-profile online web site, The Tech engages people of all ages in exploring the technologies that affect their daily lives.

        At The Tech, Giles has built a unique partnership between the industry, educators, government officials and various community leaders crucial in making the Tech a viable and successful venture. Working with a 48-member Board of Community volunteers and distinguished leaders of Silicon Valley's business community, Giles has shaped his vision of creating a resource that reflects the region's success and a place to spark the curiosity in tomorrow's innovators. His vision was partially realized in 1990 when The Tech opened a 20,000-square foot prototype facility in downtown San Jose.

        The culmination of Giles' involvement in Silicon Valley occurred in the fall of 1998 when The Tech opened its brand new 132,000-square-foot permanent home. This $100 million project with the Redevelopment Agency of San Jose, has been successful in raising $30 million in a Capital Campaign and acquiring over $25 million in donations of equipment and servises from over 500 companies. Since opening, over 1.5 million people have visited The Tech Museum.

        Before coming to the Tech, Giles served as the first president of the Santa Clara Valley Manufacturing Group. He worked with Dave Packard, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard Company, to set the tone and vision for the organization, which brought together the leading companies to enhance Silicon Valley as a place to live and work and provide the groundwork for what the region has become. The organization's focus was to work with communities to achieve its goals and to create a new way of thinking for an area transforming from an agricultural-based economy to one fueled by the technological revolution.

        In recognition of his many accomplishments, Peter was inducted into the Abraham Lincoln High School Wall of Fame in May 2002.