Born and raised in Maryland, Gregory grew up curious about how things worked. While other kids played video games, he took apart old electronics and figured out how to make them useful again. That mindset—fixing what’s broken—never left him.
After studying Information Systems at Towson University, Gregory worked in IT consulting. He helped nonprofits and small agencies go digital at a time when many were still relying on pen, paper, and endless spreadsheets. But he kept seeing the same problem—too many good organizations left behind because they didn’t have the tech or budget to keep up.
So in 2018, he started PranzoTech Solutions, a company focused on digital tools that are simple, affordable, and built for real people. Today, Gregory leads smart city projects, builds dashboards for nonprofits, and trains communities in digital skills—all from his home base in Baltimore.
But his work goes beyond business. Gregory volunteers with Code B’More, helps run a citywide digital accelerator, and mentors first-generation STEM students. Whether it’s a new sensor system for a city block or a coding lesson for a 12-year-old, he keeps his focus local, practical, and inclusive.
He lives in Charles Village with his rescue dog Jasper, cycles through Druid Hill Park, and believes that tech should help everyone—not just the lucky few.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day usually starts early—around 6:30 AM. I walk my dog Jasper, then do a 30-minute scan of project dashboards, client emails, and city data feeds. I plan my top three priorities for the day on a sticky note—one for team, one for client work, and one for future planning. The rest is noise. That helps me stay focused.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I start by listening. A lot of good ideas come from a problem someone brings up casually—like “We waste hours on this process every week.” I’ll sketch out a solution on paper first, then build a low-code prototype using tools like Airtable or Retool. If it solves the problem in 24 hours, we scale it. If it doesn’t, we scrap it.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Community-owned smart infrastructure. Things like neighborhood sensors for clean air or shared solar energy grids. The tech is there, but people need to feel ownership of it. That’s how we get lasting change.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I document everything. Not in fancy tools—just clear notes and voice memos. That makes handoffs easy and stops me from solving the same problem twice.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t wait for permission to start small. That messy idea in your notebook? Build it. Test it. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
More data doesn’t always mean better decisions. Sometimes, listening to people is more powerful than any dashboard.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Talk to someone who isn’t in your industry once a week. A community organizer, a high school teacher, a local store owner. That’s how you stay grounded.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I walk Jasper or ride through Druid Hill Park. Nature is my reset button. If that doesn’t work, I go analog—whiteboard, no screen, just scribbles.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Solve boring problems. Everyone wants to build something shiny. But if you save someone 10 hours a week on a routine task, they’ll never forget you.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early on, I tried to scale a tool without asking users what they really needed. It flopped. I learned that adoption beats ambition. Now, I build with users, not just for them.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Build a “Digital Ready” checklist service for small businesses. It’s like a tech health check: is your data backed up? Are your systems efficient? Is your team trained? Sell it as a subscription.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Notion. I use it as a second brain—project docs, team wikis, meeting notes. It’s flexible and light.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I keep coming back to the podcast 99% Invisible. It’s about design and how it shapes cities and systems. It changed how I think about infrastructure.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
The Last Repair Shop—a short documentary about people fixing old school instruments. It reminded me that quiet work behind the scenes can change lives.
Key learnings
- Focus on solving real-world problems before chasing scale or polish.
- Productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters most.
- Building with users creates more impact than building for them.
- Community insights are often more valuable than market trends.
- A simple system that works is better than a complex one no one uses.