Ben Kacyra

Business leader, Concerned citizen, Engineer, Entrepreneur, Global soul, Inventor, Parent, Philanthropist, Startup, Technologist

Mr. Kacyra is managing director of CyArk, a nonprofit engaged in 3D digital preservation of cultural heritage sites worldwide. CyArk’s ambitious CyArk 500 Challenge proposes to digitally preserve 500 important heritage sites within 5 years. The Challenge includes the 3D digital documentation of each heritage site; the creation of materials for education and cultural tourism; data archiving; and the interactive, geo-referenced dissemination of content via mobile applications and CyArk’s website (www.cyark.org). A key part of CyArk’s mission is to utilize technology to tell cultural stories in a way that was never before possible. CyArk’s concept stemmed from Mr. Kacyra’s work as co-founder and CEO of Cyra Technologies, a San Francisco Bay Area technology company responsible for developing the first fully integrated laser 3D imaging, mapping, modeling, and CAD system which is currently used worldwide in the architectural, engineering and construction industries as well as in the automotive, entertainment and crime forensics fields. Cyra Technologies was acquired by Leica Geosystems in 2001 and Mr. Kacyra remained on its board of directors through March of 2004. Prior to Cyra Technologies, Mr. Kacyra was CEO of Cygna Corporation, an engineering and construction management firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area which he co-founded in 1973. Under his leadership, Cygna became one of the top 80 engineering companies in the United States. In 1989 Cygna's engineering business was acquired by a major AEC design and construction firm. Mr. Kacyra's activities have also included serving on the University of Illinois President's Council and on the Board of Trustees of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Mr. Kacyra and his wife have three grown children and one grandson. Mr. Kacyra holds a MS degree in engineering from the University of Illinois.

technology