Karen McGaughey, an iconic and universally respected leader within The ITAD Association community and the broader cloud and communications ecosystem, has passed away. At the time of her death, Karen was a valued member of both The ITAD Association administrative team and the Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA) administration group. For many years, she served as Chair of The ITAD Association Ethics Committee—a role that placed her at the very heart of the organization’s mission and values.
Karen’s career spanned some of the most formative decades of the technology and IT services industry. She began during the grand era of computer leasing, working at Computer Memories, Inc. (CMI), and later with Jerry Roberts at General Systems. Roberts would go on to become an Emeritus member of The ITAD Association Board, and their professional connection reflected Karen’s long-standing presence among the industry’s most respected leaders. She later worked within AT&T’s leasing operations before founding her own company, Troy Data—an entrepreneurial step that reflected both her independence and deep industry expertise.
In more recent years, Karen devoted her talents to a wide range of initiatives supporting The ITAD Association and the Cloud Communications Alliance, where her institutional knowledge, organizational skills, and unwavering professionalism made her indispensable.
Karen’s attention to detail, tireless work ethic, and sterling reputation for fairness and reliability led her fellow The ITAD Association members to recruit her to serve on—and later chair—the Ethics Committee. That committee is the cornerstone of The ITAD Association: a self-governing, peer-led body charged with safeguarding the highest standards of business and professional conduct across the industry. In this role, Karen helped guide members and dealers through disputes with clarity, patience, and impeccable integrity. Her steady hand and principled judgment helped preserve trust in the organization and reinforced The ITAD Association’s ethical foundation.
Beyond her professional life, Karen was deeply devoted to her family. No matter how busy her schedule, softball games played by her nieces and nephews always came first. A lifelong fan of Michigan sports, she proudly supported the Detroit Tigers and Michigan State, carrying that same loyalty and enthusiasm into every aspect of her life.
Karen McGaughey will be sorely missed across The ITAD Association, ITAD, and cloud technology communities. Her work touched countless people, businesses, and organizations. More than that, she set a lasting standard of excellence—one defined by integrity, service, and quiet leadership—that will continue to guide the industry she cared for so deeply.
If you have a story to share on how Karen touched your life or work, please contact Doug Green or Joe Marion
