I was six years into managing the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce (at last having found a practical outlet for my degrees in philosophy and theology) and ready for the next thing when Tom and Doug approached me in 1981 about joining them to create a marketing communications firm.  I seriously agonized over the decision for about 20 minutes before deciding to give it a go.  We had our share of challenges and outright scares for the first several years, some common to most start-ups, and some peculiar to our own shifting cast of characters and clients.  Nonetheless, the experience yielded two invaluable outcomes for me: I was grounded enough in the principles of marketing and communications to accept with confidence an offer from St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in 1990 to manage its public affairs program; and I knew that I would never be very happy at work unless I was surrounded by creative and imaginative people.

By the time I went to St. Joe’s, I was pretty well grounded in the community, having gotten a fair amount of exposure in the Chamber years and during an earlier stint in the University of Michigan public relations office.  I was charged with organizing several aspects of the hospital’s outreach to the community.  Some of it was basic public relations and, increasingly, a lot of it was helping direct the hospital’s involvement in various health-care initiatives, including care for the uninsured and disadvantaged.  Along the way, I assumed responsibility for publications and press relations, marketing, and even some legislative relations.  It was a great job in a great organization.

Along the way, I was heavily involved as a volunteer in many and various nonprofit organizations.  When I turned 60, I decided that I would at last like to direct a nonprofit, and to see if I could make it thrive more or less by my own wits and experience.  It happened that the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum was about to begin a search for a new executive director, in anticipation of opening a major expansion of its facilities. I had been involved earlier with the Museum as a board member and volunteer (I even taught several bread-making classes to nine- and ten-year-olds – remembering them makes me smile).  When I was approached about taking the job, it didn’t take long for me to recognize what a great opportunity it presented.  The five years I spent there were a privilege.  If you have ever visited the museum, you can probably imagine what a hoot it must have been to run the place.  If you haven’t, you are missing something big.

I “retired” from the Museum a year ago.  I’m now putting all my experience to use as a part-time consultant to non-profit organizations, still having fun and still searching for the opportunities to work with people who nurture and treasure their creative sides.