Dreamers, Drivers, Doers

Hosted by Greater Akron Chamber

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173

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

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, unique perspectives, and a behind-the-scenes look at some of the business and legislative initiatives that are the heartbeat of our community. ]]>

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October 20, 202626 min

How The University of Akron is Beating the Odds

As colleges across Ohio face dropping enrollments, The University of Akron (UA) is boldlydefying higher education trends. The public university reported consecutive enrollmentgrowth for the past two years – that hasn’t been seen at UA since 2011. To betterunderstand the university’s momentum, Host Steve Millard sat down with two peoplebehind the wheel, President R.J. Nemer and Chief Brand Officer Katy Brennan.They talk UA’s new cheeky and memeified marketing strategy, how the university isrepositioning its value proposition, the viral football opening drive raffle, and tons of otherexciting updates.To learn more about the personalities and voices that are driving Greater Akron forward,subscribe to Dreamers, Drivers, Doers here: https://greaterakronchamber.org/podcast/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

October 6, 202622 min

When the Workplace Faces Trauma, What Should Employers Do?

No employer expects to face tragedy in the workplace, but every organization should be prepared for how to respond when it happens. Host Steve Millard sits down with Rebecca Cole, CEO of Victim Assistance Program, to talk about how employers can support team members facingtrauma, violence, loss and other life-altering events. Rebecca shares practical insights on creating psychologically safe workplaces, responding to crises with compassion and connecting employees to critical resources. Learn more at victimassistanceprogram.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 22, 202634 min

Child Care Is Economic Infrastructure: Why Employers Need to Pay Attention

Child care isn't just a family issue, it's an economic issue. In this episode, host Steve Millard sitsdown with Liz Hibbs (Early Childhood Education Alliance), Ricardo Henriquez (Shift Work Forward),and Emily Lundgaard (Elevate Greater Akron) to explore how child care impacts employeeretention, workforce participation, and business growth. From innovative employer-supportedchild care programs to statewide advocacy efforts, the conversation highlights what Greater Akronemployers can do tosupport working families while strengthening the workforce of the future.Hereare a few ways employers can help move this work forward:Advocate for policy and funding changes: Join the Groundwork Ohio Business Coalition:groundworkohio.org/businessesCollect and share data:Quantify the impact of child care on your workforce.Join our Task Force:Help shape Greater Akron's child care solutions. Contact EmilyLundgard: elundgard@greaterakronchamber.org Explore existing employee support programs:Explore tax credits, 211, ERN, and financialempowerment programs See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 15, 202652 min

Scaling Starts with You: Building a Business That Grow Beyond the Founder

What got a company to its current stage of growth often isn't what will get it to the next one. Recorded live at the Greater Akron Chamber's inaugural Business Growth Symposium on June 12, 2026, this conversation examines how leaders transition from founder-driven operations to scalable businesses. Led by Steve Wilt, Principal and Financial Advisor at CAPTRUST, panelists Dwayne Groll (Environmental Design Group) and Rachel Phillips (Fully Accountable) discuss the systems, leadership structures, and decision-making frameworks that support sustained growth. They also share how they expanded their leadership capacity, developed teams that could operate independently, and built organizations positioned for long-term growth beyond the founder. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 1, 202652 min

Where Does Your Next $1M Come From?

For companies in growth mode, growth gets harder—not because opportunities disappear, but because there are too many directions to pursue. Recorded live at the Greater Akron Chamber's inaugural Business Growth Symposium on June 12, 2026, this conversation explores how leaders identify the right path forward. Moderated by Jessica Sublett, CEO of Bounce Innovation Hub, panelists Lori Colagiovanni (Disinfection Management Technology), Jason Therrien (Thunder Tech), and Vince Venditti (Premier Home Pros) share how leveraging adjacencies, expanding into new markets, strengthening customer relationships, and making strategic investments can unlock sustainable growth and reveal where the next opportunity may be hiding. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

August 18, 202624 min

Cleared for Takeoff: Lessons from Serial Entrepreneur David Neeleman

Building a great company requires more than a great idea—it takes discipline, focus, and relentless curiosity. Building on insights shared at the Greater Akron Chamber's inaugural Business Growth Symposium, Steve Millard talks with Breeze Airways Founder and CEO David Neeleman, the serial entrepreneur behind JetBlue, WestJet, Azul, and more, about the realities of scaling successful companies. Neeleman shares lessons on building teams, preserving culture, managing risk, and leading through increasing complexity, along with his "Most Important Now" approach to focusing on the priorities that matter most. Along the way, he offers practical insights on empowering people, driving innovation, and creating momentum that lasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

August 11, 202623 min

Building a Successful Internship Program (and WHY It’s Important)

Alison Matas-Smith knows how Gen-Z works. Through her role as the AVP of Communications and Talent Development at Schauer Group, she develops a robust internship program at the insurance firm all year round. In this conversation with Steve Millard, Alison shares her experience working closely with college-aged interns and how creating a meaningful internship program has helped the company recruit and retain great talent. Together, Steve and Allison discuss Gen-Z’s changing work perspectives, and how your organization can prepare to welcome them to the workforce. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

August 4, 202651 min

The Hard Truth About Growth: What It Really Takes to Get to the Next Level

Every growth story has a side that people don’t see. Recorded live at the Greater Akron Chamber's inaugural Business Growth Symposium on June 12, 2026, this conversation explores the realities behind scaling a successful company. Moderated by Chuck Mullen, Partner and Great Lakes Market Leader at Eide Bailly LLP, panelists Rachel Mack (Staffing Solutions Enterprises), Jeff Kline (Robert J Events & Catering / Fun Services), and Mac Anderson (Cleveland Kitchen) pull back the curtain on the challenges that don't show up in metrics or case studies—from tough people decisions and internal misalignment to burnout, tradeoffs, and moments of uncertainty. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

July 28, 202649 min

Building the Right Team at the Right Time

Growth-stage companies don’t usually struggle because they lack talent—they struggle because they’ve built the wrong structure at the wrong time or failed to evolve their culture as the business grows. Recorded live at the Greater Akron Chamber’s inaugural Business Growth Symposium on June 12, 2026, this special episode brings together leaders who share what growing companies get right, where they often stumble, and how to build teams and cultures that can scale successfully. Moderated by Jeanne Coughlin, President of The Coughlin Group, panelists Krista Gesaman (Aeration Septic Inc.), Mike Milby (Ratliff & Company), and Chrissy Myers (AUI/Clarity HR) explore how to align people, processes, and culture with the next stage of growth—and how leaders can position their organizations for long-term success. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

July 21, 202637 min

The Engine Behind Northeast Ohio’s Next Era of Growth

Fresh off the National Science Foundation’s announcement of up to $160 million to support the NEO-SMART Engine, Steve Millard sits down with NEO-SMART CEO Nick Barendt and Hans Dorfi, Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer of the Polymer Industry Cluster, to discuss what could be a transformational moment for Northeast Ohio. Building on Akron’s legacy as the Rubber Capital of the World, decades of materials expertise, and years of collaboration through the Polymer Industry Cluster, EDA Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub, and Ohio Innovation Hub designations, the region has laid the foundation for national leadership in advanced materials. The conversation explores how the CHIPS and Science Act created the opportunity for this investment, why NEO-SMART is focused on polymers, chemicals and coatings, and metals, and how these industries are critical to strengthening America’s manufacturing competitiveness, economic security, and domestic supply chains. They also discuss the momentum behind this landmark award and how NEO-SMART is poised to attract investment, create jobs, accelerate innovation, and position Northeast Ohio as a driving force in the next era of economic growth for both the region and the nation. Learn more at neosmartengine.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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