Executive leader and engineering expert Smita Shah founded SPAAN Tech, a construction and engineering firm based in Chicago, IL, in 1998. When not managing the firm, Smita Shah is active in humanitarian and charitable causes, and currently serves After School Matters on the board of directors.

1. After School Matters - The 2015
Annual Gala
By Smita Shah, Chicago IL

2. Introduction
• Executive leader and engineering expert Smita Shah
founded SPAAN Tech, a construction and engineering
firm based in Chicago, IL, in 1998. When not managing
the firm, Smita Shah is active in humanitarian and
charitable causes, and currently serves After School
Matters on the board of directors.
After School Matters is a not-for-profit organization
dedicated to the provision of after-school activities in
science, technology, sports, and artistic fields to Chicago,
IL, teenagers. Activities are provided to teens free of
charge, and the organization relies on a combination of
volunteer work, sponsorship, funding, and fundraising to
cover its operating costs.

3. After School Matters
• Each year, After School Matters hosts a vibrant gala
event, and in 2015, the event is scheduled for
Monday, September 21.
Guests are invited to a cocktail reception, dinner,
and entertainment on the historic Navy Pier at
Lakeview Terrace and Grand Ballroom on East
Grand Avenue. The cocktail reception begins at 5:30
p.m. and dinner is served at 7 p.m. There will be a
gallery of work by the teenagers involved in the
program, and live performances are scheduled to
showcase the talents and skills discovered and
developed during the year.