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For Andrew Cron, of Cronac Software, software development has never just been a career path. It has been a lifelong passion that started remarkably early.
“I wrote my first fully functional computer program when I was five years old,” Cron said with a laugh.
Using his family’s Commodore 64 computer, the program was simple by today’s standards, but it sparked something that would shape the rest of his life.
“It would ask for your name and then call you a dork or something,” he joked. “But it worked.”
That early curiosity quickly evolved into a deeper interest in computers and programming. Through advanced language courses in high school and later computer science studies at the University of Michigan, Cron continued building the technical skills that would eventually become the foundation of Cronac Software.
Building a Business During the Dot-Com Era
Cron professional journey began during the height of the dot-com boom, working with an internet startup focused on web hosting and development.
When the company pivoted away from web development, many of its clients turned directly to him.
“They basically asked, ‘Can you just do this for us?’” Cron said.
What began as freelance side work gradually evolved into a business of its own around the early 2000s, long before “side hustle” became a common phrase.
Over the years, Cron moved between corporate roles and independent development work, eventually spending two decades in San Diego before returning home to Michigan.
“I always wanted to come back to Michigan,” he said.
After waiting until his children were grown, Cron officially relaunched @Cronac Software full-time in Midland roughly two years ago.
A Different Approach to Software
Today, Cron sees a growing gap in the market that his company is uniquely positioned to fill.
“There are very few companies around here actually doing custom software anymore,” he said.
Instead, many organizations rely heavily on templated website platforms and plug-in systems that often come with limitations, ongoing maintenance issues, and security concerns.
“Most companies will give you a WordPress template,” Cron explained. “But if you need something beyond that, costs rise quickly, and then you’re tied into constant maintenance.”
Cronac Software takes a different approach.
Because Cronac is a programmer by trade, the company focuses on building customized solutions that integrate directly into how organizations already operate.
“If someone says they want their website connected directly into Salesforce or another platform, I can build that,” he said.
That flexibility extends beyond websites into larger operational systems, especially for nonprofits and community organizations.
Helping Nonprofits Modernize
One of Cronac Software’s biggest areas of focus today is helping nonprofits modernize outdated systems and streamline operations.
Cron has spent much of the past year connecting with nonprofit leaders throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region and learning more about the technology challenges many organizations face.
“A lot of nonprofits are still relying on Google Forms, spreadsheets, or disconnected systems,” he said. “That makes it difficult to organize data, track impact, and collaborate.”
Those conversations ultimately inspired the development of a new donor CRM platform specifically designed for nonprofits.
The software is intended to help organizations track donations, volunteers, events, grants, and overall community impact in one connected system.
“We just launched the donor CRM,” Cron said. “Now we’re building out the volunteer and event modules.”
But the bigger vision goes beyond individual organizations.
Cron believes there is an opportunity to create a broader technology ecosystem that helps nonprofits across the region better work together.
“If you knew what every nonprofit was doing and could measure impact across organizations, that would be incredibly valuable,” he said.
He points to volunteers as one example.
“Some people love helping with events,” Cron said. “Maybe they love showing up early and helping set up. You want those people connected to organizations that need them.”
By improving collaboration and visibility, he believes nonprofits could better engage volunteers, reduce duplicated efforts, and better measure the collective impact being made across the region.
Finding Community Through Connection
Since returning to Midland, Cron has immersed himself in the local business and nonprofit community through organizations like the Midland Business Alliance.
“I’ve been to almost every WakeUp! Midland and Business After Hours event this past year,” he said.
Those relationships have already led to meaningful opportunities, including work with local businesses and connections with organizations focused on housing, community development, and philanthropy.
“It’s been instrumental,” Cron said. “You meet people doing meaningful work in the community, and those conversations lead to bigger ideas.”
Looking Ahead
As Cronac Software continues to grow, Cron is focused on expanding the nonprofit technology platform while continuing to provide highly customized software solutions for organizations throughout the region.
In the meantime, he is also looking for additional nonprofit pilot users for the donor CRM platform.
“Anybody who is struggling with their online donation provider or current systems, I’d love to talk with them,” he said.
For Cron, the work ultimately comes back to the same curiosity that first drew him to computers decades ago.
Only now, the goal is much bigger than building a simple program on a Commodore 64.
It’s about building tools that help organizations work smarter, connect communities, and create measurable impact across the region