Technology Experts
Developers, IT consultants, cybersecurity, cloud, data, and AI professionals.
Milwaukee — Chicago corridor
Connecting technology leaders between Milwaukee and Chicago.
Great Lakes Technology Corridor is a regional community for technology experts, founders, business leaders, and working professionals exploring the technologies shaping modern business across the Milwaukee–Chicago corridor.
Our story
The corridor is not just between two technology markets. It is a technology market.
Great Lakes Technology Corridor began with a simple observation: the region between Milwaukee and Chicago is full of talented professionals, growing businesses, manufacturers, founders, advisors, and technology experts — but many formal technology communities are concentrated in the larger cities at either end of the corridor.
We created this group to serve the people building, advising, operating, and modernizing organizations throughout southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois.
Read our storyWho it's for
A community for the people building the corridor
From deep technologists to business leaders and students, the corridor brings together everyone shaping modern work.
Business Leaders
Owners, executives, and department leaders modernizing how they operate.
Founders & Entrepreneurs
Startup founders, small business owners, product builders, and advisors.
Working Professionals
Operations, sales, marketing, HR, and talent leaders who rely on technology.
Students & Emerging Talent
College students, career changers, and young professionals entering the field.
Regional Partners
Economic development groups, chambers, innovation centers, and universities.
Focus areas
The technologies shaping modern business
Practical conversations across the disciplines that matter most to regional businesses.
Artificial IntelligenceCybersecurityCloud and CommunicationsAutomationData and AnalyticsSoftware and IntegrationDigital TransformationWorkforce and Talent
Events
Upcoming events
Panels, roundtables, and community conversations across the corridor.
Upcoming Featured
Practical Innovation for Local Business: AI, Cybersecurity, Automation, and Growth
The kickoff session for Great Lakes Technology Corridor — a practical conversation about how local companies can use AI, cybersecurity, communications, and automation to grow.
AICybersecurityAutomationLaunch
Topics
What we explore
Plain-language conversations about the technologies businesses are adopting now.
Artificial Intelligence
Practical AI use cases, productivity, automation, customer experience, and responsible adoption.
Cybersecurity
Risk, compliance, incident readiness, employee awareness, and data protection.
Cloud and Communications
Cloud platforms, collaboration tools, UCaaS, CCaaS, Teams, and business phone systems.
Automation
Workflow automation, business processes, low-code, integration, and operational efficiency.
Data and Analytics
Dashboards, reporting, data quality, decision-making, and AI readiness.
Software and Integration
Custom applications, APIs, systems integration, and modernization.
Founding members
Led by regional technology leaders
A founding group spanning communications, cybersecurity, software, and technology lifecycle expertise.
E. Jordan Spriegel
ARCOA Group
E. Jordan Spriegel is a regional business and technology leader with ARCOA Group, bringing expertise in secure technology lifecycle management, IT asset disposition, compliance, sustainability, and business development.
Technology lifecycle managementIT asset dispositionComplianceSustainabilityBusiness development
Brett Apold
ARCOA Group
Brett Apold brings experience in technology services, sales leadership, customer relationships, and sustainable IT lifecycle solutions through his work with ARCOA Group.
Technology servicesSales leadershipCustomer relationshipsSustainable IT lifecycle solutions
Michael Peterson
net2phone
Michael Peterson is a communications technology and channel leader with net2phone, focused on cloud communications, customer experience, UCaaS, CCaaS, and AI-enabled communication tools.
Cloud communicationsCustomer experienceUCaaSCCaaSAI-enabled communication
Nathan Robinson
Impact Networking
Nathan Robinson brings a managed technology and digital transformation perspective to the group, with experience connected to business technology, cybersecurity, AI, and operational modernization.
Managed ITCybersecurityAIDigital transformationOperational modernization
Brian Chan
AppDirect
Brian Chan is a technology channel leader with AppDirect, bringing perspective on SaaS, cloud services, technology marketplaces, recurring technology services, and advisor-led adoption.
SaaSCloud servicesTechnology marketplacesRecurring technology servicesAdvisor-led adoption
Adam Lepley
Founder, Empath Design
Adam Lepley is the founder of Empath Design, bringing experience in software architecture, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Microsoft 365, custom development, automation, and AI adoption.
Software architectureMicrosoft Dynamics 365Power PlatformMicrosoft 365AutomationAI adoption