Mac Cummings
CEO and co-founder of Terakeet
Biography
About Mac
Mac Cummings is the CEO and Co-Founder of Terakeet, an award-winning reputation operating system based in Syracuse, New York. Mac grew up in the small farm town of Tully in Central New York and remains rooted in his hometown. Today, he focuses on making a local impact, connecting his community with support from across the country.
Growing up in a tight-knit community has informed Mac’s pragmatic, people-focused executive leadership style. As Terakeet’s CEO, he has created an innovative workplace culture, bringing teams of industry experts together to become the trusted reputational partner for global brands.
Armory Square, Syracuse, New York
Entrepreneurial Roots
Mac’s Early Years
In 2001, MacLaren “Mac” Cummings earned his degree from the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University. During his time at Cornell, he began dipping his toes into business leadership, first with a financial search engine called The Money Crawler.
He later saw an opportunity to offer consulting services to Cornell classmates, who were part of the startup ecosystem at the time. This led to the creation of Mindshark Software and Consulting, a company that helped him pay for college.
Mac’s early ventures taught him how to navigate through uncertain market conditions by developing innovative business models. They also showed him the value of developing industry expertise over time through hands-on experience. His leadership approach combines grit and excellence with the understanding that making an impact also requires partnership and community.
Ithaca, New York
Founding Terakeet
Terakeet: Building a Brand by the Bootstraps
Mac’s journey as the CEO and Co-Founder of Terakeet could best be described as building a brand by the bootstraps. It began in 2001 with a friend from high school, Patrick Danial, who would become the Co-founder of Terakeet.
The initial idea was to bring a novel voice and speech recognition software to market. The name Terakeet is derived from combining the words “terabyte” and “parakeet,” inspired by the technology’s function and the data’s bird-like ability to “talk back” to callers. While the speech recognition platform was ahead of its time, the co-founders retained the name as a tribute to the company’s origins and a nod to how data and technology continue to power Terakeet’s solutions. The dot-com era created an opportunity for Terakeet to pivot to an SEO company in 2003 to meet this demand.
Terakeet’s ability to adapt to market conditions and achieve long-term success is partly due to Mac’s decision to create a business model independent of investors and other financial pressures. This freedom allowed Mac and Patrick to bootstrap the company over time. This agility helped them achieve excellence through incremental innovation. It also ensured that the priority has always been to meet (and often exceed) the expectations of clients and partners.
Follow Terakeet
Community & Giving
Making a Local Impact
Mac’s sense of community and grounded leadership style have contributed to his decision to support various causes. As an alumnus of Cornell University, he has supported fellow Cornellians on their educational journeys and sat on the Cornell Entrepreneurship Board. He has previously served on the Manlius Pebble Hill School Alumni Board and the CenterState CEO Board.
Mac and Patrick’s decision to headquarter Terakeet in Syracuse rather than moving it to Silicon Valley or New York City has rooted the company’s philanthropy in the local community. Championed by Mac, a group of Terakeet employees launched Cause For The Cuse in 2013. Cause For The Cuse is an employee-led non-profit organization that supports children in the Syracuse City School District. To date, Cause For The Cuse has raised more than $100,000 to provide educational resources and school supplies to over 20,000 local students.
Cause For The Cuse Golf Tournament
Honors for Mac Cummings
In recognition of his success as a CEO and entrepreneur, Mac has been awarded:
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® New York Award 2022
Glassdoor’s Top CEOs 2021
News
Mac In the News
Mac Cummings shares lessons from building Terakeet as a bootstrapped company, emphasizing resilience, disciplined growth, and a people-first leadership approach.
A look back at the origins of Terakeet, where Mac Cummings explains how the company’s name, culture, and mission have evolved throughout its journey from startup to industry leader.
In this interview, Mac Cummings explores how leaders can leverage data to make more informed decisions, strengthen organizational performance, and build lasting competitive advantages.
Terakeet News
Former FBI cybersecurity leader Matt Gorham joins Terakeet to help shape strategy at the intersection of cybersecurity, brand reputation, and enterprise risk management.
Terakeet celebrates its ninth consecutive Great Place to Work® Certification, recognizing its continued commitment to a high-trust, employee-first workplace culture.
Terakeet’s employee-led nonprofit, Cause For The Cuse, donated $10,000 to support the Mary Nelson Youth Center’s Back 2 School Backpack Giveaway, helping provide essential school supplies to Syracuse-area families.