Breaking Barriers & Inspiring Change
Tags: webdev, sgfdevs, sgfdevsspotlight
Published: 2023-11-01 13:27:58

The life and career of Maranda Provance can be summed up in one word: passionate. Her career is peppered with activism, encouragement and support of our communities. 

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Maranda is a Springfield native, having grown up visiting the downtown square as a teen and finding her open, inviting and creative tribe within our city. While most teens can be angsty and excited to leave their hometown, Maranda saw excitement and potential in Springfield. Her first foray into activism was with cannabis reform. She joined Springfield NORML and worked in the community to collect the signatures needed to get decriminalization on the ballot in 2012! The experience energized Maranda to keep advocating for things she has passion for. 

While she was beginning her activism experience, she also began her development career. She found herself with a group of friends who were starting a business in the industry. They saw in her a drive and intelligence to become a great developer (likely due to her beating them in Settlers of Catan multiple times). So, without any experience in the industry, she started working at Intuitive Web Solutions (IWS) building software for insurance agencies. With her self-motivation and ability to learn new things quickly, she thrived in her career while also earning her degree in Computer Science. 

After years of working in the industry, she started to notice an unfortunate lack of diversity. And with her history of activism and community involvement she knew just how she could work to make our community even better! She started working to found The Geek Foundation. The Geek Foundation’s mission is to support the tech industry by encouraging diversity through removing barriers to entering the field. It started by providing outreach programs for local kids at libraries and the Boys and Girls Clubs, then branched out to provide training and support for adults looking to enter the industry. 


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/g471qf3wle64eapsqgh4.jpg)

Maranda didn’t stop there, getting involved in the local group [Springfield Women in Tech](https://sgfwit.com/). Most recently, she spearheaded a [research study](https://www.teamhabitat.com/witreport) into the local technology scene to see what local tech employees are wanting, and how local companies can work to attract and retain a diverse tech team. 

> “There’s a lot of value in studying what policies and benefits actually attract and retain diverse talent in our area.”

As many startups have experienced, Maranda’s company found themselves needing to drastically downsize. Unfortunately, Maranda found herself in need of a new professional home. Like many people, she had been ingrained in the IWS culture for so long, that she felt slightly untethered. Unsure about where she should land. Luckily, a local marketing firm was looking for someone with just Maranda’s skillset. 

Maranda started at [Mostly Serious](http://mostlyserious.io/) as a software developer, but very quickly saw areas that she could step into to help lead the company to greater success. Recognizing the needs of the company and stepping up without needing to be asked proved to Mostly Serious how pivotal her experience, skills and expertise were to the company. So, today you can find Maranda at Mostly Serious as the Director of Development. Supporting the team of developers and supporting clients during work hours, then supporting the development community outside of work hours. 

That’s what motivates her. Understanding her community and what drives and supports them. Then solving problems and removing barriers for not only her team and clients but for the entire community. It’s this passion that makes Maranda unique and so very important to Springfield, and Springfield Devs. This community is so much better having Maranda in it. And we’re so grateful!

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