Dreamers, Drivers, Doers

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 programs like DAP’s Start Downtown and the Western Reserve Community Fund, and the difficult realities of opening a vegan business in a region still warming up to the lifestyle. She shares her belief in meeting people where they are—offering sample tastings, plans for a vegan-friendly food truck, and even blended menu options to bridge dietary divides

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 Medicaid expansion, and the transformative potential of the HatCo acquisition for Summa’s future.

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 trust, creating opportunity, and positioning the Urban League as a hub for innovation and empowerment.

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 for empathetic leadership, and her commitment to reinvesting in preventive care. Throughout the conversation, she offers candid insights into building trust, overcoming leadership challenges as a woman in medicine, and how Cleveland Clinic Akron General's physician-led model keeps patients at the center of every decision.

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 about the NSBA and how to get involved, visit https://www.nsbaadvocate.org/ [https://www.nsbaadvocate.org/].