Kris Rinne originally planned on a career teaching math and coaching student athletes. She grew up in rural Northeastern Kansas and studied math at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. After graduating, she intended to teach in a rural community. That plan changed when the chairman of the math department arranged an interview with Southwestern Bell. She joined the company after graduation and embarked on a career that has made her one of the most respected technology leaders in the telecommunications industry.
Kris has served in a number of roles in the AT&T family, including Chief Technology Officer and Vice President – Technology and Product Realization for Cingular, Vice President – Technology Strategy for SBC Wireless, and Managing Director – Operations for Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems.
As Senior Vice President – Network Technologies for AT&T Labs, Kris was responsible for network architecture, service platforms, radio access roadmap and initial implementation, wireless device requirements and certification, network platforms, network performance analysis, and industry standards development at AT&T. Kris retired from AT&T in late 2014.
She has been included in the Global Telecom Business Power 100 list of the most powerful telecom executives worldwide, most recently in September 2013. She has also been named repeatedly to the Fierce Wireless list of “The Most Influential Women in Wireless” and topped the list in 2011. Additionally, Kris has been extremely active in industry associations including 3G Americas (later to become 4G Americas) and the ATIS standards group, serving as chair for both organizations. In those roles, she helped to promote 3GPP technologies and guide industry standards. Kris also serves as a member on the Boards of Directors for such companies as Ericsson and Synchronoss.
As influential and effective as Kris has been within the industry, she has made an even bigger impact in the community. Kris remains extremely active in her church as a member of the finance committee and the choir. She is a strong supporter of the United Way, where she serves on an influential IT committee, and she serves on the Board of Trustees of Washburn University. Kris is also a tireless advocate for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education for young women. She was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2013.