Who We Are

Maranda is a local, who like Krista, was born and raised here in Springfield. She has been programming at local businesses for 9 years. After getting her start building web-based insurance software at Intuitive Web Solutions, she joined the team at award-winning design & development studio Mostly Serious. She now acts as Director of Engineering for Mostly Serious, leading a team of web developers.

It was during her time in the Computer Science department at Missouri State University that she first found a desire to bring diversity to the technology field. While she felt welcomed by the school faculty, it was disconcerting that there were no other women in her Computer Science courses until her senior year. She knew that if she could do it and succeed, other women could as well. Which is why her passion led her to join forces with Krista to create The Geek Foundation.

Outside of web development and TGF, Maranda enjoys spending time practicing and teaching yoga, singing with her band, and cooking healthy vegetarian meals.

Krista Peryer, the head of the Geek Foundation, is passionate about increasing diversity in the tech and maker industries. She believes in positive workforce, personal, and economic development through tech by collaborating with local schools and nonprofits for recruitment and facilitation of programs. 

The Geek Foundation is a passion nonprofit of Krista's developed after years of noticing the lack of women and minority representation in tech and the vast amount of employment opportunities available within the industry. A former childhood Math Olympiad and “geek”, Krista grew up with an interest in math, technology, and design. Upon college enrollment, she found it difficult to find a program suited to her interests for career options within the tech industry. After trying some online courses in computer programming, she realized she learned best in a hands-on environment, but the coding bootcamps she was interested in would require relocation to other states while attending their months-long courses; an option not available with children. 

Since opening in late 2015, The Geek Foundation has grown to include a dedicated and passionate team of staff, board members, and sponsors, and by partnering with local organizations and schools, our organization has already served hundreds through a variety of our programs offered.  When she’s not turning her passions into a cause, Krista enjoys being a charity cosplayer, writing for Make: Magazine and Raspberry Pi’s HackSpace Magazine, making geeky things out of yarn and fabric, and serving on boards within the community.

In 2021 Krista was honored to receive the North Springfield Betterment Association Betterment Award and Springfield Business Journal's Most Influential Women Award.