NC Tech Leadership Shifted as CEO Departed
North Carolina tech businesses should monitor for new strategic priorities following an 18-year leadership transition.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Remote Work
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NC Tech CEO Brooks Raiford departed the organization in April 2026 after serving in the role for 18 years. Interim CEO Michelle Calton is currently overseeing the association as it develops a five-year strategic plan for its 650 member companies.
Why it matters
The change in leadership allows for a fresh oversight of the association's five-year strategic initiative following shifting industry dynamics since the COVID-19 pandemic. Members now await a new strategic roadmap that will likely define future advocacy and service priorities for the group.
NC Tech generated $1.84 million in revenue during 2024 against $1.6 million in operating expenses. The association represents approximately 650 member companies and their combined workforce.
The players
NC Tech
A statewide trade association representing approximately 650 companies across the technology sector.
Brooks Raiford
The former long-term CEO who led the organization for 18 years until his departure in 2026.
Michelle Calton
The current interim CEO who has been with the organization for more than two decades.
Joan Smemoe
The current board chair who assumed leadership in July 2026.
The details
NC Tech is currently undergoing a formal strategic planning process to reshape its long-term direction. Interim CEO Michelle Calton, a veteran of the organization for over 20 years, has actively solicited feedback from the membership regarding the future of the association. This transition follows the departure of Brooks Raiford, who led the group from his tenure as CEO.
Timeline
1993: NC Tech was launched as the North Carolina Electronics and Information Technology Association.
April 2026: Brooks Raiford departed his role as CEO after 18 years.
July 2026: Joan Smemoe assumed the role of board chair.
August 2026: Michelle Calton solicited member input via LinkedIn.
End of 2026: The organization expects to disclose its new strategic plan.
Market Landscape
The leadership transition follows a broader pattern of trade associations realigning their governance structures in response to the operational shifts observed since the COVID-19 pandemic. This change mirrors similar strategic pivots among industry groups that are reevaluating their member services in a hybrid-work environment.
Member companies should prepare for shifts in association advocacy priorities that will likely be outlined in the upcoming strategic plan. Business leaders should monitor for the release of this document by the end of 2026 to evaluate how the group's new direction may influence their own operational compliance or networking strategies.
The takeaway
The departure of a long-standing CEO presents an opportunity for member companies to influence the organizational strategy of their industry groups. Business owners should review their membership value proposition and prepare to submit feedback on service priorities before the next strategic cycle begins.
What happens next
NC Tech expects to publicly disclose its new five-year strategic plan before the end of 2026.
Further reading
For broader insights into evolving professional networks, explore our latest coverage in Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Business North Carolina.
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