Alan Trefler

Alan Trefler is a prominent American businessman, born in 1956, who has made significant contributions to the field of software development. His career began to take shape in the 1970s, when he demonstrated his exceptional skills in chess, notably tying for first place in the World Open Chess Championship in 1975. Following this achievement, Trefler worked as a software engineer for several companies, including Casher Associates and TMI Systems, before deciding to establish his own venture.

In 1983, at the age of 27, Trefler founded Pegasystems, a multinational software company that would become a cornerstone of his success. He led the company to go public in 1996 and held various leadership positions, including clerk, president, and eventually CEO. As the majority owner of Pegasystems, with a 52 percent stake, Trefler's net worth surpassed $1 billion in 2013, earning him a spot on the Forbes Billionaire's List in 2017. In addition to his business pursuits, Trefler is also a published author, having written the book Build for Change in 2014, and a philanthropist, having established the Trefler Foundation in 1997 to support various charitable causes.