Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce names Doug Pitt as 2026 Springfieldian

Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce names Doug Pitt as 2026 Springfieldian

Springfield, Mo.— For more than 30 years, Doug Pitt has quietly shaped lives, strengthened communities and expanded opportunities. That work now earns him the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s highest honor as the 2026 Springfieldian.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting on Jan. 30, where Pitt was recognized before hundreds of business and community leaders.

Presented annually, the Springfieldian Award honors an individual whose service, leadership and commitment have elevated the Springfield community.

Throughout his career, Pitt has embodied those ideals through a unique blend of entrepreneurship, philanthropy and civic leadership.

Pitt is a Springfield-based entrepreneur whose work   spans technology services, real estate development, nonprofit leadership and international humanitarian work—always with a central focus on expanding education access, supporting child advocacy and driving community development.

That service-driven mindset defines Pitt’s leadership, said Kevin Waterland, co-owner of Pitt Technology Group.  “He is a guy that leverages all of his business connections, and all that success specifically to do good things,” said Waterland.

Pitt founded Care to Learn to ensure students’ immediate health, hunger and hygiene needs are met so they can thrive in school—a model that has since expanded across Missouri. In addition to his philanthropic work, Pitt is founder and owner of Pitt Technology Group, established in 1991, and Pitt Development Group, launched in 2014.

“At the end of the day legacy is an opportunity to make an incredible impact and it doesn’t have to be when you’re older. I think you can do it at a young age,” said Krystal Simon, CEO of Care to Learn. “You see that happening. I think you see Doug making such a profound impact. You see it not only in Springfield, but truly across the state of Missouri, and around the world.”

His civic leadership includes service as chair of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as ongoing board service with Great Southern Bancorp and Great Southern Bank. Pitt has also contributed his expertise to numerous nonprofit and global service organizations, including WorldServe International and Enactus, and has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Republic of Tanzania, reflecting a commitment to service that extends far beyond the region.

###