The Mississippi River and a steel bridge near Dubuque, Iowa, on a bright clear day.

29 years of community

About NetSmart

NetSmart has been helping small businesses and nonprofits cut through the tech confusion since 1997 with a commitment to plain-English advice and honest pricing.

Our story

Where we come from.

NetSmart was founded on April 7, 1997 — back when most small businesses didn't have a website and "digital strategy" wasn't yet a phrase anyone was using. Kevin Lynch built the company on a simple idea: Eastern Iowa businesses and nonprofits deserved a real technology partner, not a vendor. Someone who would sit down with them, learn their operation, and help them make smart decisions — without the jargon, the runaround, or the bill for things they didn't need.

That idea held for nearly three decades. In June 2026, Logan Drake purchased NetSmart and took over as owner — committed to the same mission, the same community, and the same way of doing business that Kevin built.

Iowa has always punched above its weight in technology. The first electronic digital computer was developed at Iowa State University. Gateway Computers was founded in a barn in Sioux City. We like to think there's something in the tradition — that you don't need to be in a coastal tech hub to do meaningful work with technology. You just need to know what you're doing and care about the people you're doing it for.

Meet the team

The people behind NetSmart.

Logan grew up in Dubuque and has spent his career helping Iowa organizations get more out of their technology. Before purchasing NetSmart, he worked as a freelance web designer and marketing consultant, and served as a research specialist in education at the University of Iowa. He brings both the technical background and the client-service instincts that NetSmart was built on — and as owner, he's directly involved in every project. When you work with NetSmart, you hear from Logan.

Kevin founded NetSmart in 1997 and spent nearly 30 years building relationships with businesses and nonprofits across Eastern Iowa. Beyond his work at NetSmart, Kevin has been a dedicated community voice — serving as a longtime Dubuque city council member and continuing to serve as the president of Dubuque Initiatives. He remains connected to the clients and community he helped build, and continues to support NetSmart's work daily.

Rolling green Iowa farmland with a lone tree against a deep blue summer sky.

Our mission

What we're here to do.

NetSmart is your digital partner for cutting through the tech confusion. We serve businesses and nonprofits by bringing the solutions you need — and not the ones you don't. Whether you need a website, an online marketing strategy, an AI-powered solution, or just someone to finally explain what's going wrong with your tech, we're Eastern Iowa's trusted guide.

What we believe

The values behind the work.

Community is our client.

We serve businesses and nonprofits, which ultimately means we serve the communities we're part of. We choose clients and partnerships with that in mind. A stronger organization makes a stronger community — and that's the work we're here to support.

Bread and roses.

Thriving communities need both sustenance and joy. We're proud to support organizations working in food security and the arts across Eastern Iowa.

Relationships over transactions.

We don't deliver services and move on. We sit down with you, learn your business, and stay invested in your success. Our owner is involved in every client relationship. That's what real partnership looks like — and it's what bigger firms won't give you.

Yes first.

When a client has a need, our instinct is to figure out how to meet it — not to explain why it falls outside our service list. We're a full-service digital partner, and that means showing up for what you actually need, not just what fits neatly in a package.

Accessible by design.

Great digital tools shouldn't be out of reach for small businesses and nonprofits doing important work. We price our services to reflect the realities of the clients we serve, and we measure success by outcomes, not invoices.

A wide view of the Mississippi River valley from a wooded bluff in Eastern Iowa on a clear autumn day.

No pitch, no pressure

Want to know if we're the right fit?

Let's have a conversation. We'll listen to what you're trying to accomplish, give you an honest read on what we think you need, and tell you what it'll cost — no pitch, no pressure.

Get in touch