Noetic Changemaker Series
Tara May, Chief Executive Officer, Aspiritech
What was your experience like working with Noetic Search?
Noetic really made it a two-way experience. They made sure that it was not only a fit for the client but also a good fit for me as the candidate and I appreciated that.
What impact are you most proud of on behalf of your organization?
I am really proud of the expansion into other service lines, i.e. cybersecurity, and growing our job along with training. We are now providing job training to over 50 autistic adults in cybersecurity to help them gain employment. These are individuals who do not work at Aspiritech, so this allows us to help more people and expand our reach. We started with just 8 individuals, grew to 50, and plan to be training 75 or more by next year. We also received a $50,000 grant to expand into Colorado.
We’ve launched Neurodiversity training and counseling for other companies and organizations, as well as for managers and HR professionals, to teach them how to be inclusive. This is important because we can not be the only ones doing this, so we get to share our model to help others!
How do you stay connected to the communities you serve?
Aspiritech built the website for an organization called Spectrum Sailing. Some of our employees volunteer with them, and we love supporting them. They do sailing camps in Chicago, Michigan, North Carolina, and Florida. This is just one example of how I maintain close alliances with partner organizations. I view this as part of the ecosystem.
Do you have a motto or mantra you live by?
At work: Kindness always has a return on investment - The ROI of kindness is my work mantra.
At home: My parents always said “Plan B rocks,” meaning life may not go exactly how you imagined it would, and it can still be amazing!
Tara May was placed as Chief Executive Officer of Aspiritech in 2022. Prior to joining Aspiritech, Tara held senior leadership roles in media and technology, including serving as EVP of Media and Chief Digital Officer at Winsight and helping launch hundreds of local digital platforms. Known for her ability to leverage technology to drive impact, she is a recognized thought leader in user experience and digital transformation.
Aspiritech is a Chicago-area nonprofit and technology services firm that delivers quality assurance testing, accessibility services, and data solutions to clients nationwide. Its mission is to empower individuals on the autism spectrum through meaningful employment, combining high-quality tech services with a deeply human-centered approach. With a growing team and a reputation for excellence, Aspiritech is a leader in advancing neurodiversity in the workforce.
Tara’s leadership reflects a powerful alignment between innovation and purpose—expanding Aspiritech’s impact while elevating awareness of neurodiverse talent as a critical driver of business success. Her vision continues to position the organization at the forefront of inclusive workforce development and technology-enabled social impact.
