In 2006, Matt Machala co-founded IT360, a Peoria firm that provides business computer and technology services to small and medium-sized businesses. He currently serves as vice president of this rapidly growing business.
As a community service, Machala and IT360 got involved in the Build the Block initiative, providing the camera, installation, development and ongoing maintenance of buildtheblockcam.com, which offers a real-time view of the construction of the Peoria Riverfront Museum and Caterpillar Visitors Center.
Machala is a co-founder and board member of Impact Peoria, a nonprofit group that gives back to the community by assisting a wide range of other organizations. Through Impact Peoria, he has installed wheelchair-accessible trails at Camp Big Sky, allowing children and adults with disabilities to enjoy outdoor activities. He has assisted with the Camp Big Sky Fishing Tournament, rung bells for The Salvation Army, assembled educational packets for Junior Achievement, distributed Christmas gifts for the Children’s Home, helped with the registration and route monitoring of numerous running events, and provided services to The Center for Prevention of Abuse, Midwest Food Bank, Cancer Center for Healthy Living and others.
Through his work with the Rotary Club of Peoria-North, Machala has helped to deliver dictionaries to third graders in District 150, and twice a month, he helps third graders at Hines Primary School develop their reading and comprehension skills. He has served two terms on the organization’s board of directors, gotten involved with a variety of its committees, and was instrumental in creating its current website. He has sponsored two new members, served as a student guest host, and completed Level 1 of the Rotary Leadership Institute training.
Earlier this year, Machala received the Fred Sweat Fellowship and Service Award in recognition of his commitment to the Rotary Club of Peoria-North. He was also named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary International Foundation. Demonstrating a firm commitment to central Illinois, Machala is always ready to step into action with his can-do attitude. iBi
