About LGC
Total Technical Solutions
History of LGC
It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. That certainly seems the case when reviewing the genesis of Local Government Data Processing Corporation (LGC). The automation problem facing local governments in the early and mid-seventies was both cost and availability. Many cities and counties recognized the need and benefits of automation, but the cost of hardware and software was beyond many local governments’ budgets. Also, the rapid growth in the computer industry gave vendors all the business they needed without going to small customers in remote locations.
In 1973, James Cotton, Jr., a representative from the Tennessee Valley Authority, met with Ken Joines of UT MTAS (Municipal Technical Advisory Service), and Mike Kesler, Computer Center Director of Columbia State Community College (CSCC), to discuss a mutually beneficial project to provide computer services for Tennessee cities. TVA had some limited funds earmarked for this purpose, MTAS had expertise in municipal fund accounting, and CSCC had computer hardware and programmers. In a cooperative effort, they developed fund accounting software that was deployed to twenty municipalities in the Middle Tennessee area. The following year, the software and documentation were given to Jackson State Community College (JSCC) to serve West Tennessee. This resulted in deployment to fourteen additional municipalities before the total project reverted to CSCC. Serving thirty-four Tennessee cities from the CSCC computer center soon became an obvious encumbrance to their primary mission of serving the students, faculty, and administration.
In 1977, Local Government Data Processing Corporation became an independent entity, incorporated as a not-for-profit to serve automation needs in the Tennessee Valley, primarily in the State of Tennessee. TVA provided $50,000 and UT-IPS provided $45,000 for start-up funding. Charter board members included Charles Bilbrey, Comptroller’s Office, Herbert Bingham, Director of TML, James Cotton, Jr., TVA, Ralph Harris, Director of TCSA, Gary Hensley, municipality, Ken Joines, MTAS, Mike Kesler, Director of LGC, Tom McAnulty, CTAS, and Claude Wright, SDE. The first staff consisted of Mike Kesler, John Hunt, Mickey Wilson, Sue Gilliam, and Doris O’Neal. Six presidents, Bruce D. Collier, Mickey Wilson, Mike Kesler, John Hunt, Bradley Dugger, and Vic Mangrum have served LGC.
The corporation opened for business in a small Columbia office on Penny Avenue on July 7th, 1977, with a used IBM 360 Model 30 computer. After that LGC moved to a 6,000 square foot office in a basement on Trotwood Avenue for twelve years. Then in October 1991 moved to its present 17,000 square foot facility at 714 Armstrong Lane.
The first product was a batch accounting and payroll service with the addition of utility billing the second year. The product line has expanded to a full-service company offering hardware, software, and related computer services. In September 2003, LGC purchased the assets of DataQuest Corporation. DataQuest had served as LGC’s closest competitor for over 20 years. This acquisition included all software and the opportunity to serve an additional 160 customers. The entire staff made the transition and brought positive technical and cultural value. The application software offered by LGC covers virtually all the automation needs of its customers, from accounting and property taxes to food service and court administration.
The year 2005 brought several significant changes to the company. LGC had expanded its services over 28 years to include all aspects of automation for non- profits, city, county, and state governments. To reflect the changes to these services that are currently provided by the company, the Board of Directors voted to adopt Local Government Corporation (LGC) as the company name by which to do business.
The dedication and contributions of Mike Kesler, who served as President of LGC since December l, 1988 were acknowledged at his retirement on June 30, 2005, after 17 years as President of the corporation.
Mickey Wilson, who was the Executive Vice President, took on the role of President of LGC on July l, 2005 and served faithfully until his retirement on June 30, 2014. Bruce D. Collier, who was Executive Vice President, took on the role of President of LGC on July 1, 2014.
Today, LGC employs over 150 people and serves over 1,500 customers in the Southeast, including many contracted services to the State of Tennessee. Thanks to the foresight and hard work of many people and support organizations, LGC’s customers are second to none when it comes to automation.
In 1973, James Cotton, Jr., a representative from the Tennessee Valley Authority, met with Ken Joines of UT MTAS (Municipal Technical Advisory Service), and Mike Kesler, Computer Center Director of Columbia State Community College (CSCC), to discuss a mutually beneficial project to provide computer services for Tennessee cities. TVA had some limited funds earmarked for this purpose, MTAS had expertise in municipal fund accounting, and CSCC had computer hardware and programmers. In a cooperative effort, they developed fund accounting software that was deployed to twenty municipalities in the Middle Tennessee area. The following year, the software and documentation were given to Jackson State Community College (JSCC) to serve West Tennessee. This resulted in deployment to fourteen additional municipalities before the total project reverted to CSCC. Serving thirty-four Tennessee cities from the CSCC computer center soon became an obvious encumbrance to their primary mission of serving the students, faculty, and administration.
In 1977, Local Government Data Processing Corporation became an independent entity, incorporated as a not-for-profit to serve automation needs in the Tennessee Valley, primarily in the State of Tennessee. TVA provided $50,000 and UT-IPS provided $45,000 for start-up funding. Charter board members included Charles Bilbrey, Comptroller’s Office, Herbert Bingham, Director of TML, James Cotton, Jr., TVA, Ralph Harris, Director of TCSA, Gary Hensley, municipality, Ken Joines, MTAS, Mike Kesler, Director of LGC, Tom McAnulty, CTAS, and Claude Wright, SDE. The first staff consisted of Mike Kesler, John Hunt, Mickey Wilson, Sue Gilliam, and Doris O’Neal. Six presidents, Bruce D. Collier, Mickey Wilson, Mike Kesler, John Hunt, Bradley Dugger, and Vic Mangrum have served LGC.
The corporation opened for business in a small Columbia office on Penny Avenue on July 7th, 1977, with a used IBM 360 Model 30 computer. After that LGC moved to a 6,000 square foot office in a basement on Trotwood Avenue for twelve years. Then in October 1991 moved to its present 17,000 square foot facility at 714 Armstrong Lane.
The first product was a batch accounting and payroll service with the addition of utility billing the second year. The product line has expanded to a full-service company offering hardware, software, and related computer services. In September 2003, LGC purchased the assets of DataQuest Corporation. DataQuest had served as LGC’s closest competitor for over 20 years. This acquisition included all software and the opportunity to serve an additional 160 customers. The entire staff made the transition and brought positive technical and cultural value. The application software offered by LGC covers virtually all the automation needs of its customers, from accounting and property taxes to food service and court administration.
The year 2005 brought several significant changes to the company. LGC had expanded its services over 28 years to include all aspects of automation for non- profits, city, county, and state governments. To reflect the changes to these services that are currently provided by the company, the Board of Directors voted to adopt Local Government Corporation (LGC) as the company name by which to do business.
The dedication and contributions of Mike Kesler, who served as President of LGC since December l, 1988 were acknowledged at his retirement on June 30, 2005, after 17 years as President of the corporation.
Mickey Wilson, who was the Executive Vice President, took on the role of President of LGC on July l, 2005 and served faithfully until his retirement on June 30, 2014. Bruce D. Collier, who was Executive Vice President, took on the role of President of LGC on July 1, 2014.
Today, LGC employs over 150 people and serves over 1,500 customers in the Southeast, including many contracted services to the State of Tennessee. Thanks to the foresight and hard work of many people and support organizations, LGC’s customers are second to none when it comes to automation. LGC Board Members
Local Government Corporation (LGC) is a private, not-for-profit corporation, with the mission to solely serve local and state government agencies. LGC has an appointed representative 11-member Board of Directors, who represents your needs, as well as looks out for the welfare of our employees.
Represented on the board is: County Officials Association of TN (COAT), Comptroller of the State of Tennessee, County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), TN County Services Association (TCSA), TN Municipal League (TML), and Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS), Board of Education and School Customers, along with our Alabama Customers. Five of these board members are active customers who use our products.
Our charter does not allow for the company to be sold. Additionally, we even cannot change our mission to serve local and state governments solely without a super majority vote of the Board and permission from the Secretary of State. All of this is to ensure LGC continues to provide our customers with the best service and the most stability.
T.J.Jones
Appointed 2010
Dyer County Circuit Court Clerk
COAT
Chairman of the Board
J. RodneyCarmical
Appointed 2011
TCSA
BruceCollier
President
LGC
JamesCornelius
Appointed 2016
TN Comptroller's Office
MikeLockhart
Appointed 2022
Mayor of Muscle Shoals, AL
DougLukonen
Appointed 2022
Maury County Finance Director
Wesley
Robertson
Appointed 2023
County Government Consultant CTAS
BrianRunion
Appointed 2024
Rutherford County BOE
Chief Financial Officer
EricSpencer
Appointed 2021
Finance and Accounting Consultant
MTAS
DonWeiss
Appointed 2021
Mayor of Dickson
TML
Laurin
Wheaton
Appointed 2023
Mayor of Cookeville, TN
Mission, Vision, and Action Statement
Mission Statement – What we do
LGC is dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality, most cost-effective computer-related products and services available.
Vision Statement – Why we do it
There is honor and value in public service. Our customers serve the public and are of vital importance to all citizens. We fully commit ourselves to providing our customers with our best products, support, and effort, to enable them to best serve their customers.
Our Culture in Action – How we work and live
- We treat others the way we want to be treated.
- We bring integrity, value, and commitment to life through positive actions and examples.
- Together we maintain an environment of complete trust, integrity, and humility in order to serve one another and our customers the best.
- Absolute honesty and 100% effort are required.
- Our customers experience such a consistent level of excellence in all of us and our products, that they will come to expect it to be the LGC standard.