Dreamers, Drivers, Doers

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/].

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 virtual fundraising auction that supports their mission of protecting, preserving, developing and enhancing the historical, natural and recreational resources along the route of the historic Ohio & Erie Canal.