Terry Howerton was the founding Chairman of the Illinois Technology Association, and became Chairman Emeritus in 2012 after seven years leading the organization. He is a frequent speaker and thought leader within community, and actively influences public policy for the industry.
Together with Fred Hoch, ITA President, Howerton built the ITA into an internationally recognized organization passionately committed to building a more connected, collaborative and successful technology industry. The ITA is a social enterprise that acts as a strategic development arm for member companies, and an economic development leader within the region.
Terry is a lifelong entrepreneur, starting his first successful company at the age of 15. Most recently the founder and CEO of FastRoot, an infrastructure and IT consulting company specializing in Software-as-a-Service, he is now a principal in Zealous Capital LLC, a venture development cooperative, and serves on several private corporate Boards of Directors or Advisers. Terry built and remains a principal in an offshore software and product development lab based in Eastern Europe.
Terry is co-founder and partner in Chicago’s TechNexus, the coworking clubhouse and incubator for the Illinois technology industry that is used by thousands of entrepreneurs and stakeholders each month. TechNexus has provided a home for more than fifty new tech companies since opening in January, 2007, and hosts several events, roundtables, training sessions and company meetings each week.
Howerton regularly consults and collaborates with entrepreneurs and technology leaders to help them define a bold vision and align business and technology strategies. Terry Howerton is a recognized expert on the software and infrastructure industries, and a skilled technologist in his own right. He’s equally adept at communicating with technology leaders as well as business leaders.
In recent years, much of Howerton’s time and energy has focused on the social enterprise and social entrepreneurship, building upon the success of the trade association by helping the industry engage in critical, “more than profit” initiatives that have collective, positive impact. He was a main driver in launching the Illinois Technology Foundation, a group focused on developing talent and workforce for the future of Illinois. He co-created the Fifty for the Future program, an initiative to identify the fifty brightest students graduating from area universities each year, and connect them with the industry.
Howerton was one of the founders of the Chicago Technology Academy, a charter school committed to educating future entrepreneurs and technologists in Chicago’s inner-city, and continues to actively contribute to this school’s leadership and direction. Having helped launch Chicago Tech, Howerton became acutely interested in education reform and actively speaks, writes and participates in efforts to improve the education system.
Terry is a member of the Mayor’s Council of Technology Advisors, the Board of Directors of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of Genesys Works Chicago (an exciting internship program), and the annual SmartBet charity poker tournament.
Terry loves the outdoors – backpacking, camping and cave exploration. He’s a sports fanatic, plays reasonably competitive recreational football, softball and other weekend warrior sports, and is a current events junkie... he’s rarely without a strong opinion, and is usually quick to offer one whether solicited or not.
Terry Howerton's personal website and blog
