Dreamers, Drivers, Doers

What does it actually look like to use AI inside a growing business? Recorded live at the Greater Akron Chamber’s inaugural Business Growth Symposium on June 12, 2026, this special episode features a candid conversation with leaders who aren’t just talking about AI—they’re actively using it to drive results. Moderated by Jay Mellon, President of ATNETPLUS, panelists Mike McGill (Medical Service Co.), Rob Buchwald (AI Institute Akron), and Britney Trafis (Soarion Digital) share how they’re applying AI across marketing, hiring, finance, and customer engagement. And just as important, they talk through what didn’t work and how they moved past early roadblocks to scale their efforts.

Get an inside look at how the next wave of polymer solutions is taking shape and the people drivingit forward. This special episode features a clip from an Elevate Greater Akron webinar centeredonthe region’s “Global Polymer Capital” priority.Hans Dorfi,Executive Director and Chief InnovationOfficer of the Polymer Industry Cluster (PIC), sets the conversation witha look at the region’sstrategy, followed by a panel led by Jessica Sublett,President and CEO of Bounce Innovation Hubof Bounce Innovation Hub, featuring Dr. James Eagan (University of Akron), Isaiah Kaiser(AuxiliumHealth), Katie Kelley (ARDL), and Erin Spring (The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company).Together, they share how ideas move from research to real-world impact through startup support,R&D investment, and strong regional partnerships. More info at polymerindustrycluster.org.

Supporting brain health at work starts with awareness, action, and the right resources. Steve Millard sits down with Lindsay Walker, State Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association in Ohio, to discuss the growing impact of Alzheimer’s on employees, families, and employers. Together, they explore how workplaces can become more brain-healthy, why early detection matters, and what business leaders should know about supporting team members navigating a diagnosis or caregiving responsibilities. Lindsay also shares resources available at alz.org/resources and explains the policy push behind the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act (alzimpact.org).

What does it take to lead through the decisions that define growth? Recorded live at the Greater Akron Chamber’s inaugural Business Growth Symposium on June 12, 2026, this special episode brings together three leaders who have navigated growth from the front lines: Ben Boyer, Prospector Baseball Group; Dr. Jorge Garcia-Zuazaga, Apex Skin; and Tia Ramlow, GreatWork Employment Services. Moderated by Steve Millard, the conversation explores the opportunities and challenges that come with expansion, building the right team, making strategic pivots, and leading through uncertainty. Along the way, each guest shares lessons from their own leadership journey and discusses why continued investment in Greater Akron and Northeast Ohio remains central to their success.

What started as a routine visit to the library with her children turned into a powerful production rooted in memory, family, and love. Ashley Moore Dunson, executive producer and partner at MooreDunson Co., shares the story behind The Remember Balloons Live! and how it grew from an emotional encounter with a children’s book into a moving performance created, produced, and choreographed by Akron artists, husband Dominic Moore-Dunson and Theron Brown. After two years on the road, The Remember Balloons Live! comes “home” to E.J. Thomas Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 20 for a one-night-only performance that pays a homage to the community that has held, shaped, and inspired these artists. Tickets can be purchased at the Akron Civic Theatre Box Office or on Ticketmaster. Visit rememberballoonslive.com to learn more.