Springfield Tech Council
Our History
A voice for the industry, a hub for community,
and a resource for all.
The origins of Springfield Tech Council trace back to the recognized need for a unified voice to represent the region's growing technology industry. Originally operating as separate entities, the Association of IT Professionals (AITP) and the Mid-America Technology Alliance (MATA) served distinct yet interconnected roles locally.
AITP focused on empowering IT professionals through networking, skills development and events. MATA centered on economic and workforce development, fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem, using technology for civic good, and advocating for the tech community.
In 2019, the executive leadership of AITP and MATA began discussing the opportunities of combining their efforts. They saw the potential to amplify the region's tech voice and influence by pooling their resources, networks and vision to directly address the evolving needs of our community.
Over the next 2 years STC was formed through the alliance of these two preeminent organizations. Guided by an executive team of proven tech sector leaders, Springfield Tech Council set out to proactively cultivate the tech industry and community that regional businesses and professionals wanted to see flourish in the coming decades.
Springfield Tech Council officially launched in 2021 with a ribbon cutting event at the Bluebird underground data center.
The generous support of founding sponsors Bluebird Network and Pitt Technology Group allowed the organization to become a reality and continue to thrive. STC has since grown to one of the largest professional organizations in the region, with additional support of cornerstone and visionary sponsors SRC and CNH Industrial Reman.
Annual signature events include the STC Squared Conference in March and the Excellence in Tech Awards in November. Members and guests have the opportunity to regularly connect through monthly events such as Learning Over Lunch, Meet the Members/Happy Hour, Leadership Roundtables, Tech Leaders Lunch, and more.
Founding Board Members
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Nick Lofaro
Founding Board Member
Past PresidentFormer President of AITP
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Jason Arend
Founding Board Member
Past Vice PresidentFormer President of MATA
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Sherry Coker
Founding Board Member
Past SecretaryFormer Founder of MATA
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Bob Graham
Founding Board Member
TreasurerFormer board Member AITP & MATA