I recently decided I’m a recovering entrepreneur. Not that I didn’t love my life as an entrepreneur and business builder- growing relationships with customers, encouraging young team members to find the passion for our vision, find their talents, and to go after their own dreams.

Creating new systems and processes to give us a competitive advantage; creating the future through imaginative strategies and executing those strategies.

Working alongside my childhood friend as business partners. And, of course, the thrill of playing in the “game,” where it always felt we could win or lose every day.

Michael Stanley once sang, “Money is the way they keep score.” In business, that is certainly true, but there was always more than just the score. That something, that human interaction, that creating, that, well, “more.” So when we sold the business and I retired, I wanted to continue to pursue the “more,” but without any score.

I have always been creative and tried my hand at painting, writing stories, and other art, but it seems my passion is to write poetry. I have also felt it important to give back to the community that has given me so much. During my exploration for how to give back I met Nicole Mullet, the leader of ArtsNow, and decided getting involved would be one way to give back and support art in our community.

We all live in our bubbles, but we all live in the Akron area. Art is a way to connect. Art is a way to listen to others, when others just want a chance to express themselves.  Art can help us find ourselves. We all need that, especially today, although I believe that has always been true

How?

Maybe by seeing other perspectives, feeling other possibilities, other realities.

Nicole and Grace have introduced me to many artists I’d never have met without ArtsNow. 

Like, the most optimistic hip-hop musician I know (not that I know many!), Floco Torres.

Dominic Moore-Dunson, award-winning dancer and choreographer, soon-to-be producing a new show based on the book, “The Remember Balloons.”

The talented artist, Taylor Clapp, who serves as lead organizer of The Groundhog Show.

The spoken word poet, Keith Allison, who curates “Angry Cow Poetry” in Akron the first Wednesday of every month at the Rialto Theatre in Kenmore.

Jason Blakely, a one-man wrecking crew working to help people find their voice through poetry.

The creative Ron White, who brought to life two of my favorite authors (Robert Heinlein and Tim Robbins). Below is a picture of me having a cigar with them.

My wife, Kim, and I, both love art. She expresses hers by creating incredible outdoor environments. I express mine through poetry and a garage art gallery.

I want to thank Nicole, Grace, and all the others, who, like Atlas, put the Akron art community on their shoulders to make this a great place to live.

Hopefully, supporting ArtsNow will be good for our artist community, our community as a whole, and ourselves.