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PODCAST

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers

Greater Akron Chamber

Want to discover the personalities, leaders, and voices who are making things happen and making a difference in our region? Welcome to Dreamers, Drivers, and Doers, where Greater Akron Chamber CEO and President Steve Millard engages in conversations with business owners, influencers, and government officials to discover what makes a group of people come together, the possibilities on a local and regional level, and the potential of an area that pulls together. Fascinating journeys, strong opinions,

government entrepreneurship

All Episodes

32:28

Ep. 122 - Navigating Growth and Change with Chuck...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/06/10

What’s holding business leaders back from expanding, innovating, or taking that next big leap? For Chuck Mullen, it often comes down to fear—and he’s here to challenge it. Chuck, Partner and Great Lakes Market Leader at Eide Bailly, joins Steve Millard for a candid conversation on how to lead through uncertainty, navigate mergers, and build trust in a changing world. Drawing from 20+ years in public accounting, Chuck shares what’s stayed the same—and what absolutely hasn’t—when it comes to scaling a

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18:42

Ep. 121 - PGA Golf in Akron: A Look Back at 2024...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/06/03

As the 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship returns to Firestone Country Club from June 18–22, we’re revisiting a conversation with Don Padgett, Executive Director of the tournament. In this episode, originally aired in 2024, Don and Steve Millard discuss the tournament’s deep roots in Akron, its economic and charitable impact, and what makes it more than just a golf event. Whether you’re a fan of the sport or just looking for a premier summer experience in Greater Akron, this episode offers a

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26:28

Ep. 120 - Small Business, Big Impact: Art, Advocacy,...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/05/27

In celebration of Small Business Month, this episode, originally spotlights the woman entrepreneurs building community and driving local impact. Steve Millard talks with Tara Mosley and Joelle Diane Zellman about Women Supporting Women, a vendor event that showcased the power of women-led small businesses in Greater Akron.

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30:24

Ep. 119 - Frey Canty’s Journey of Passion,...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/05/20

In this episode of Dreamers, Drivers, Doers, Greater Akron Chamber President Steve Millard sits down with Frey Canty, owner of The Soulful Vegan, Downtown Akron’s first Black female-owned restaurant. What began as a personal fitness journey and a love for sharing workouts online turned into a powerful pivot—from running a gym to creating plant-based meals that filled a gap in Akron’s dining scene. Frey opens up about the barriers she faced as an entrepreneur, her experience with community support

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35:46

Ep. 118 - Tracy Carter on Shaping Healthcare Policy...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/05/13

In this episode of Dreamers, Drivers, Doers, Greater Akron Chamber President and CEO Steve Millard talks with Tracy Carter, System Director of Government Affairs and Health Policy at Summa Health. Tracy shares her inspiring journey from a young intern seeking mentorship at 18 to becoming a key voice in healthcare policy and advocacy at one of the region’s leading health systems. Tracy discusses the importance of proactive relationships across all levels of government, her fierce advocacy for

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32:54

Ep. 117 - A Century in Motion: The Akron Urban...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/05/06

In this episode of Dreamers, Drivers, Doers, Greater Akron Chamber President and CEOSteve Millard sits down with John Williams, President and CEO of the Akron Urban League. As the Akron Urban League approaches its 100th anniversary, John discusses the organization’s enduring legacy and its evolving role in workforce development, youth engagement, and small business support. From safe spaces for teens and esports programs to business incubators and community partnerships, John is focused on building

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32:45

Ep. 116 - Leading with Empathy and Vision in Healthcare

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/04/29

In this episode of Dreamers, Drivers, Doers, Greater Akron Chamber President and CEO Steve Millard sits down with Dr. Teri Lash-Ritter, President of Cleveland Clinic Akron General and Lodi Hospitals and President of the South Submarket of the Northeast Ohio Market. Dr. Lash-Ritter shares her leadership journey from growing up in Canton to becoming a key figure in healthcare administration, with a strong foundation as a physician leader. She reflects on lessons learned in crisis management, the need

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36:14

Ep. 115 - Small Businesses, Big Impact: The Role of...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/04/22

In this episode, Steve Millard and John Rizzo talk with Todd McCracken, President & CEO of the National Small Business Association (NSBA) about the organization's history and the services they offer. Todd provides insight into various issues that small businesses face such as the Small Business Income Deduction, Corporate Transparency Act, R&D amortization, and other actions they're taking to give small businesses a voice among elected officials and government leaders. For more information

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32:13

Ep. 114 - The Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition Story:...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/04/15

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Rice, President and CEO of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, to explore how this impactful organization connects communities through history, recreation, and economic development. With over 150 public and private partners, the Coalition works to preserve and promote the rich educational and recreational assets along the Ohio & Erie Canalway like the Towpath Trail and Summit Lake. Dan also details the organizations upcoming “Captains Ball” on April 30–a

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34:08

Ep. 113 - Making Sense of Solar for Ohio Businesses

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/04/01

With energy costs set to rise by a whopping 10%-20% this summer, commercial businesses and residences alike are facing mounting expenses. By investing in solar, businesses can lock in energy rates for up to 30 years, take advantage of a 30% federal tax credit, and even benefit from domestic manufacturing incentives. In this episode, Steve sits down with Anthony Manna Jr., President of Hello Sunray, to discuss how solar energy provides a powerful solution, as well as detailing their large scale

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35:19

Ep. 111 – A Conversation with 2025 H. Peter Burg...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/03/18

In this special episode of Dreamers, Drivers, Doers, we sit down with Rick Rogers, Founder and Executive Director of Curated Storefront and the 2025 recipient of the H. Peter Burg Economic Development Leadership Award. A visionary entrepreneur, business leader, and champion of the arts, Rick has played a pivotal role in shaping Akron’s economic and cultural landscape. From expanding B.W. Rogers Company across multiple states to revitalizing downtown Akron through public art and creative placemaking,

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36:48

Ep. 110 - Unlocking Innovation through the Power of...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/03/11

In this episode, Steve sits down with Kathy Wilcox and Joe Watson of Switch Innovation Lab to explore the power of design thinking in organizational success and how a human-centered approach can solve workplace challenges, foster innovation, and create psychological safety. The three dive into appreciative inquiry, the importance of focusing on strengths rather than faults, and the role of emotional intelligence in leadership. The conversation also covers the necessity of clarity in job roles,

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31:43

Ep. 108 – Rachel Bridenstine, Development Finance...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/02/25

In this episode, Steve sits down with Rachel Bridenstine, President of the Development Finance Authority (DFA), to discuss how the organization supports large-scale development and job creation. They explore how DFA helps finance community projects, infrastructure, and business growth. Rachel highlights the Western Reserve Community Fund, a nonprofit initiative providing access to capital, technical assistance, and development services for small businesses and nonprofits, and shares how DFA connects

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26:56

Ep. 107 - Connecting Communities: The Impact of...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/02/18

In this episode, Steve talks with Bridget Ambrisco, Executive Director of the Akron Parks Collaborative, about how Akron’s parks enhance community engagement, safety, and the city’s appeal to families and businesses alike. Bridget shares how the organization connects residents with the city to improve and maintain parks, the impact of initiatives like the Akron Parks Challenge, and the importance of activating these spaces beyond their initial development. She also discusses funding, business

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27:02

Ep. 104 - AI, Cybersecurity, and the Future of...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/01/28

This episode dives deep into how small and midsize businesses can navigate today’s fast-paced technology landscape with a focus on IT management, cybersecurity, and AI integration. Jay Mellon, Owner of AtNetPlus, explains the interconnected nature of network management and security, highlighting the rising cybersecurity risks facing businesses and how tailored solutions can mitigate them. The conversation expands to the transformative impact of AI, exploring real-world examples like workflow

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33:42

Ep. 103 - ADVOCACY IN ACTION: The ACAA is Your...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/01/21

In 2024, the Greater Akron Chamber and Canton Regional Chamber formally aligned their government affairs and advocacy activities through the Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance (ACAA) to represent the needs of their collective 4,500 members and engage with elected officials and policymakers for the benefit of jobs, investment, and growth for the Akron-Canton region. Steve Millard sits down with Jeff Dafler, President and CEO of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, and John Rizzo, Vice President of

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36:25

Ep. 102 - Connecting the Dots for Businesses in...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2025/01/07

In this episode, GAC Executive Vice President Brynn Allio Popa turns the tables on host Steve Millard for a fun, fast moving discussion about GAC’s work in 2024 and key priorities for 2025 created by the recent refresh of the organization’s blueprint. The pair cover key aspects of the strategy refresh, helping businesses navigate resources in the community, fighting the workforce problem, DEI, and more.

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35:06

Ep. 101 - Mark Greer on the 2025 Akron Bicentennial

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2024/12/31

Akronites know that our city has a deep and colorful history that's shaped the fabric of our region. Back in June, we welcomed Mark Greer, Executive Director of the Akron Bicentennial, into the studio to talk about the upcoming Bicentennial celebration in 2025. A number of events and historic celebrations will take place aimed at bringing the city together that we want to put on your radar before the new year starts.

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23:55

Ep. 100 - Celebrating Legacy with Michael Considine...

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2024/12/17

In this milestone 100th episode of Dreamers, Drivers, Doers, Greater Akron Chamber President Steve Millard sits down with Michael Considine, founder of Norka Beverage Company. As Norka marks its 100th anniversary, Michael shares insights into preserving a legacy brand while navigating the challenges of running a small family business. Steve and Michael discuss the incredible transformations happening in Akron, the power of community roots, and the resilience it takes to thrive in today’s market

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26:31

Ep. 97 - Rising Energy Costs and How to Manage Them

Dreamers, Drivers, Doers ·

2024/11/26

Energy costs are on the rise, but businesses and organizations will see a significant increase in 2025. Xpense Solutions President and energy expert John Verdile stopped in earlier this year to explain the increase on episode 87; in this second part, John describes how businesses can adapt to these changes, including energy saving techniques and resources to utilize.

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55 results

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