Michael Jones and Dalton Sirmans founded MST as MainStreet Technologies in 1999 to develop document imaging and tracking solutions for businesses and government. The collaboration brought together the complementary talents of two friends who have known each other since they attended fifth grade together in their hometown of Lakeland, Georgia.

Michael Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is responsible for overseeing the development of the technology that is at the core of the leading edge solutions provided by MST.

Following graduation from Georgia Tech in 1987, Michael stayed with the university as a software engineer for more than 13 years. In 1997 he began developing document imaging and indexing applications for the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority in Atlanta. He then played a key role in the development and implementation of digital document management for Superior Court Clerk offices statewide.

Dalton Sirmans earned his bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University in criminal justice and sociology. He is responsible for the overall business leadership of MST, including sales and marketing strategy.

In his various positions as marketing director, then general manager and eventually publisher for Athens, Ga.-based Community Newspapers, then as the Atlanta area marketing director for New York-based American Lawyer Media, Dalton was involved in advancing the development and use of imaging technology. In MainStreet Technology he and co-owner Michael Jones have designed applications rooted in imaging technology that enhance the tracking, storing and reporting capabilities for county governments throughout Georgia, as well as for specific private business applications. In 2006, the company began marketing the MST Loan Administration System, a revolutionary system that for the first time delivers a comprehensive solution to one of the most critical challenges for community bankers, tracking and reporting on the documents that secure their loans.

Founded just as the “dot.com” era bubble was about to burst, MST focused on the Internet as a tool rather than a franchise. The decision, which was contrary to that of so many of the failed technology companies of that period, was key to its initial successes, which came long before the dust had settled on the Silicon Valley dot.com debris.

Since its founding in 1999, MST has acquired customers throughout Georgia and the Southeast. The company has been profitable since its inception, recording double-digit earnings growth each year while financing its own growth and remaining free of long-term debt.