Author: Simone Powell

Simone Powell Co-Owner, Wide Open Tech & Founder, County School Calendar Simone Powell is CEO & Founder of countyschoolscalendar.com , innovative technology entrepreneur, operational leader, and the co-owner of Wide Open Tech, a premier software development and digital strategy firm based in Wilmington, North Carolina. With a career rooted in building scalable digital solutions and streamlining complex workflows, Simone has spent years helping businesses transform their ideas into functional, user-centric technology. The Spark for Innovation Beyond her corporate leadership, Simone is a dedicated parent whose firsthand experiences navigating the chaotic rhythms of family life inspired her to launch County School Calendar. The idea for the platform was born out of a universally relatable parenting moment: arriving at school on a hectic morning only to discover an unannounced, scheduled closure. Recognizing a gap in how school districts communicate critical dates to busy families, Simone leveraged her firm’s technical expertise to build a seamless, elegant solution. Launched as a free community resource, the County School Calendar mobile app automatically syncs official district schedules—including holidays, teacher workdays, and early releases—directly to parents' personal smartphone calendars. Philosophy & Impact Simone’s professional philosophy centers on practical innovation: using technology not for its own sake, but to solve real-world friction points. Under her leadership, Wide Open Tech continues to deliver robust software solutions for businesses, while her passion projects like County School Calendar demonstrate her commitment to community-driven tech that gives parents back their most valuable asset—time.