Entrepreneur, philanthropist tapped for Lifetime Achievement award

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Doug Pitt is Springfield Business Journal’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement in Business honoree.

An independent panel of judges selected Pitt to be recognized July 17 during the Economic Impact Awards, along with company awards acknowledging excellence in business, including employee and revenue volumes and impact on the community.

Pitt co-owns managed service provider Pitt Technology Group LLC and leads real estate investment firm Pitt Development Group LLC. He also is the founder of nonprofit Care to Learn.

SBJ’s 25th annual Economic Impact Awards will also present company honors in five categories based on years in business. Top honors in each category will be announced at the event next month. Finalists, in alphabetical order, are the following:

• Buf Architecture Studio LLC, Keep Supply and Next Level Solutions, in the 1-10 years in business category.
• Arvest Bank, The Bank of Missouri and The Drew Lewis Foundation Inc., for 11-20 years in business.
• Jordan Valley Community Health Center, Little Sunshine’s Playhouse and Preschool, and Toth and Associates Inc., for 21-35 years in business.
• Citizens Memorial Hospital, Empower: abilities, and Victory Mission and Ministry, for 36-74 years in business.
• College of the Ozarks and Ollis/Akers/Arney, for 75 years or more in business.

Lifetime honoree
In 1991, Pitt founded ServiceWorld Computer Center, a small computer shop that would become Pitt Technology Group decades later.

He sold a majority interest in the company to Miami Nations Enterprises in 2007 while continuing to be an owner and principal operational partner, according to past SBJ reporting.

In 2012, Pitt co-founded TSI Integrated Services, in partnership with TSI Global, a St. Louis-based company. 

Five years later, Pitt repurchased his computer company, which he reorganized as Pitt Technology Group with co-owner Kevin Waterland, according to past reporting.

In 2014, Pitt founded Pitt Development Group. After a decade of developments in apartments, strip centers and land development, Pitt and PDG focus on medical office space and land development. 

Pitt’s philanthropic endeavors have led him to serve on several boards, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Make-A-Wish, Easter Seals and the Red Cross. He has also chaired the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce board and been involved in various community task forces, including co-chairing the Springfield Homeless Task Force in 2010 and the Early Childhood Committee for the Every Child Promise in 2013. 

Perhaps his most well-known civic endeavor began nearly 20 years ago. In 2007, Pitt became aware of the challenges facing children in southwest Missouri, particularly those living in poverty, according to past reporting. In response, he founded Care to Learn, a charitable organization focused on addressing children’s immediate health, hunger and hygiene needs to support their academic success. By 2023, the organization had helped over 3 million people through donations of money and goods.

He also holds the title of Goodwill Ambassador for the United Republic of Tanzania.

Pitt joined the Board of Directors of Great Southern Bank in 2015 and is also a board member of TrailSpring, actively promoting the sport of mountain biking, trail development and community path development.

He was inducted into the Springfield Public Schools Hall of Fame in 2011 and into the Missouri State University alumni Hall of Fame in 2019.

Pitt is a past honoree of the Starkey Hearing Foundation along with President Bill Clinton with their Humanitarian Leadership Award for his work in Africa and his work domestically.

He has been a Rotary Volunteer of the Year and a Missourian Award Recipient and was inducted into the 2019 Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame.  

Find more information about the Economic Impact Awards event at SBJ.net/EIA.