Dreamers, Drivers, Doers

Amy Mucha can be found at many Greater Akron Chamber events, but there's a chance you've heard of her referredto as the "cake pop lady" more than her actual name. She's the owner of Daisy Pops, a Kent-based cake pop shopthat sells a number of cake-based delicacies and services. If you've ever talked to her, you knowthat "pop" hasbecome a part of her everyday dialogue to the point where she almost...

Headquartered in Akron, Apple Growth Partners (AGP) is an accounting and business advisory firm thatoffers a fullrange of services, primarily to privately held small and mid-size businesses. In this episode, Chairman Chuck Mullen sits down with Steve Millard to discuss how in our ever-changing world, complete with AI other modern technologies ,clients are demanding more... as they should. Chuck ex...

Expanding a Small Business Outside of our RegionLeppo Rents was started nearly 80 years ago by Roy and Stella Leppo as a small Oliver Farm Equipmentdealer. A few decades later, a shift in focus to construction equipment rentals propelled the business intoyears of dynamic growth and expansion. Today, the company has expanded to 10 locations across threestates, while continually altering their busin...

If you follow the Greater Akron Chamber or the Akron business community in general, you may have heardof the Polymer Industry Cluster. Akron has deep rootsin rubber and material science, and today, the regionhas hundreds of businesses, manufacturing plants, and research institutions focused on polymer-basedproduction and sustainability efforts. This led to Greater Akron being designated as a Susta...

Each year, thousands of Summit County individuals are victims of crisis, violence, and tragedy, and manyare unprepared and unequipped to deal with the fallout. Luckily, Summit County has the Victim AssistanceProgram (VAP), a 501(c)(3) non-profit unattached to law enforcement and the court system that offersnonjudgemental crisis intervention and emotional support to victims. In this episode, Steve...

Nothing is certain in life and in business. In this episode of the Dreamers, Drivers, Doers podcast, SteveMillard sits down with Schauer Group President and CEO Joe Schauer to talk about theintricacies ofcommercial insurance and risk management, and the impact Schauer Group has made in Akron, Cantonand Cleveland. The pair also discuss culture in the workplace, internship programs, and how to attra...

Northeast Ohio is on the verge of a historic event-the first total solar eclipse since 1806 is happening onApril 8, and Greater Akron sits in the 115-milewide "path of totality" where the eclipse is viewable. Anothertotal solar eclipse won't happen until 2099, making it a must-see event for people across the country. Hundreds of thousands of guests are expected in Greater Akron for the eclipse, an...

Since the pandemic, businesses have been struggling to figure out the hybrid work environment and how it relates to their commercial spaces. As may be obvious, many businesses have decided to scale down their properties and invest more in other quality of life improvements for their employees, essentially doing more with less. Meanwhile, unused office spaces are being converted to residential, and...

Offering a unique historic experience does numbers in attaching citizens to their community andencouraging outsiders to visit. Greater Akron is chock full of attractionslike this, and the Cuyahoga ValleyScenic Railroad (CVSR) is one that continues to preserve the past while constantly changing andimproving. From the North Pole Adventure to Dinner on the Train, Steve Millard explores how Presidenta...

There's often more to an organization than initially meets the eye. Many of them offer services and products that the public may not even be aware of, making it of utmost importance to market these services to their communities. Steve Millard sits down with Erica Wilson-Domer, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, to discuss how the organization provides and markets a wide array o...

Malleability is an important quality for any business to display-it's not often that you'll find a successfulbusiness that says no to change. Oftentimes, that need for changecomes from adversity or strife, something we've recently seen on a large scale as businesses exited the Covid pandemic with vastly different operations, goals, and functions, as well as a better understanding of their markets....

Interested in buying a business but unsure where to start? Or, are you a business owner without a clear exit strategy in place? While it seems counterintuitive to open a business and think about how you leave the business at the same time, it's important for business owners to be prepared when the unexpected happens. Steve Millard explores the world of business mergers and acquisitions, selling, a...

Investing in new business processes, especially those using technology, is intimidating to many business owners and leaders, especially in the world of AI.  Rest assured, the team of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP has you covered.  What started as a primarily accounting-focused business has evolved into a team of trusted advisors helping their clients in all aspects of their business, from accounting to o...

There’s never a wrong time to shop small, as said by Justin Lepley, Director of Northside Marketplace,Founder of Lepley & Co. and Solidago Business Advisors. And he’s not wrong. As we head into the holidayshopping season, Steve Millard sits down with Justin and Heather Meeker, Executive Director at SummitArtspace, to talk about Small Business Saturday, Artists Sunday, and the new Akron Bazaar, and...

The 2024 economic forecast is “cautiously optimistic” as told by panelists Brian Pietrangelo, ManagingDirector of Investment Strategy at Key Private Bank, and Jacob Duritsky,Vice President, Strategy,Research and Talent at Team NEO, during the Greater Akron Chamber’s annual Economic Outlook eventon November 3, 2023. Following the event, Steve Millard sat down with these experts to recap theconversa...

Did you know that every $1 invested in public transportation generates $5 in economic returns? On thisweek’s episode, Steve Millard chats with METRO RTA CEO Dawn Distler and ValerieShea, Director ofPlanning and Strategic Development, about the role public transit plays to drive and support economicdevelopment, how the transit agency’s redesigned bus network that launched in June 2023 increasedacce...

Celeste Brown is a go-getter–when she sees a problem, she comes up with a solution from the lenseofan entrepreneur. On this episode, Celeste shares the “aha moment” behind the launch of her businessDefining Enterprises, LLC., how one email led to the placement of two automated retail machines in theAkron-Canton Airport, and the future of retail with convenient and contactless shopping methods.

Becoming a leader was always in the cards for Chrissy Myers, but after a run of undesirable jobs as ayoung adult while working for her dad, she was adamant about not returning to work for the familybusiness. You can probably guess where this story goes, but what you don’t know is the how: HOW shedoubled her business in size and opened a fractional HR entity; and HOWher work serves smallbusinesses;...

Thinking through a problem and coming up with a solution is second nature to Amanda Leffler, ManagingPartner of Shumaker's recently-established Akron office. Amanda sits down with Steve Millard to talk abouther role as a connector within the legal realm, how Shumaker offers a variety of services for businesses of all sizes, and their unwavering commitment to ensure the best outcome for their clien...

Exposing students to experiences beyond the classroom in their early years is crucial–not only for personal development but also to ensure continuous growth of the local talent pool. On this episode, Marcie Ebright, Director of the College & Career Academies of Akron Public Schools, and Jobs for Ohio Graduates Executive Director, Chris Canova, talks about this transformative education model that i...

While venture capital is historically concentrated in the West Coast, experts have witnessed a gradual shift in investments in the Midwest and Ohio specifically. Plus, with startup support from Bounce Innovation Huband Akron's position as Rubber Capital of the World, Greater Akron and Northeast Ohio has potential to be a premier startup hub in the Midwest. Join Steve Millard and Bill Manby, Foundi...

United Way's evolution from a traditional fundraising organization to a community impact-driven entity reflects the changing landscape in the nonprofit sector, yet there is still a lack of awareness around the dynamic work that United Way of Summit & Medina leads and supports. President and CEO Jim Mullendives into how United Way collaborates with corporate, philanthropic, and civic leaders to dri...

On August 8, 2023, Summit County Public Health issued a public health alert following seven suspected overdose deaths in one weekend and a steady increase in overdose-related Emergency Department visits over the last month. Leaders from CHC Addiction Services sit down with Steve Millard to talk about the dangers facing the community, how employers are responding and the resources available to comp...

Did you know that Kenmore is the largest business neighborhood district and the second-largest neighborhood in Akron? For the past five years, Tina Boyes, a fifth-generation Kenmore resident who formerly led the Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance, has poured her heart and soul into the revitalization of Kenmore Boulevard. In this episode, Tina shares how she helped reignite Kenmore as the place for com...

A clean and beautiful community instills a sense of pride and ownership among its residents, and when residents have that sense of pride, they tend to be more responsible and respectful of personal and public spaces. Jacqui Ricchiuti, CEO of Keep Akron Beautiful, and Akron Police Officer Aaron Brown dive into the details of their partnership, the ongoing challenges they face, their commitment to i...