Published in the Dayton City Paper, Feb. 3, 2015:

 

Certifiably Jonathan

Ohio comedy legend Jonathan Winters honored in film

 

By Rick Eichhorn

 

Comedian Jonathan Winters car­ried a buckeye in his pocket every day, every­where he went. Ever the collector, the buckeye was most likely indicative of the strong bond he felt with his home state. And, just perhaps, in his whacky world of his priceless mementos, that buckeye was one of his most beloved pos­sessions.

“He was very proud to be from Ohio,” Matt Fortnow, former music attorney and producer of the film “Certifiably Jonathan,” said, adding that Winters was always pulling the buckeye out of his pocket to show visitors.

During the making of the film, Fortnow had the opportunity to spend countless hours with Winters over the course of several years. Fort­now said he would show up with a small film crew at Winters’ Montecito, California home at around nine or ten in the morning, and the first words out of Winters mouth would usually be, “Okay, it’s time for lunch.”

Now, if anyone in the crew would imply that it seemed a bit early for lunch, that they had just arrived, Winters would respond, “I don’t work unless you buy me lunch.”

That was probably a ruse to get the crew into a restaurant, where Winters could unleash his comedic genius. Fortnow related how Winters would go into all these different characters and perform for all the other tables in the place. In fact, “Certifiably Jona­than” which was con­ceived as a true docu­mentary, was quickly “hijacked” by Winters’ wonderful mind, which sort of sabotaged the film by giving it a story line, taking it out of the documentary realm.

“We were okay with it,” Fortnow said of Win­ters’ taking charge. “The whole project took a turn following Jonathan’s crazy mind.”

The film is about Winters’ pursuit for recogni­tion as a painter, but then losing his sense of hu­mor when his favorite painting is stolen. Robin Williams, Sarah Silverman, Howie Mandel and others help him on a quest to get his comic mojo back. The movie is on DVD and available on Net­flix, Movies on Demand and online stores.

Winters was born in Bellbrook, Ohio and was a descendant of Valentine Winters, who founded Winters National Bank. His mother, Alice Kilgo­re Rodgers, became a radio personality, and his father, Jonathan Harshman Winters II was an in­surance agent and investment broker. According to Wikipedia, Winters told Jim Lehrer in a 1999 interview, “Mother and dad didn’t understand me; I didn’t understand them.”

   When Winters was seven, his par­ents separated, and he was sent to live with his maternal grandmother in Springfield. During his childhood, he was often alone in his room. That’s where he devised all sorts of characters and sound effects, such as a spot-on im­itation of an Indy 500 race. After 2 and a half years in the Marine Corps, sta­tioned in the Pacific Theater during World War II, he attended Kenyon College with the intention of becoming an illustrator. An ac­complished artist, he went on to study cartoon­ing at the Dayton Art Institute where he met his wife, Eileen Schauder. They were married for 60 years, until her death in 2009.

   As the story goes, one day he lost his watch, and the couple was too broke to afford a new one. Fate intervened when his wife noticed an ad for a local talent contest, and the top prize was a new watch. She urged him to enter; al­though he balked, wondering what his “talent” would be (Taking out an easel and painting on stage?) She told him to just do his crazy charac­ters, and the rest is history.

   As Fortnow picked up the story, after Win­ters won the talent contest, he soon got a job at a local radio station as a newscaster. Soon, he began doing interviews, but not just any inter­views. His guests were prominent nuclear physicists, ace pilots and other famous “no­tables.” When his boss inquired where he was getting all these guests, Winters would casual­ly make up some quick aside such as “the bar downstairs.” It wasn’t long before the station discovered that Win­ters was doing the “interviews” all by himself. He was doing all the voices himself, and that all the people were in Winters’ imagination. Ac­cording to Fortnow, he was promptly fired.

   Whether the story is myth or legend, embel­lished or not, Winters moved to New York City with a mere $56 in his pocket. He hit the com­edy circuit, secured a manager and started get­ting guest spots on television shows. With host Jack Paar on the Tonight Show, Winters pulled off some classic comedy bits, which can still be seen on YouTube. One time, Paar simply handed Winters a stick, and Winters went off with sev­eral minutes of now legendary “shtick.” Legend has it, Paar and Winters later had a falling out when Winters prank called him, pretending to be President Kennedy, and Paar bought it hook, line and sinker.

   In addition to countless guest spots on a num­ber of TV shows, Winters became a regular on Mork and Mindy, playing Robin Williams’ son, and starred in several movies, most notably, “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” He received 11 Grammy nominations for Best Comedy Album, wining one, won an Emmy for his supporting role in the TV show Davis Rules, and was the second recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

   Like a lot of people of his generation, Fortnow bonded with his father by watching Winters on TV and laughing together at the side-splitting routines. Naturally, Fortnow related that it was a fantastic treat to be able to spend time with Win­ters as the comedian approached the twilight of his life. Fortnow described the comic’s home as a “museum” filled with artwork – his own and other great artists’ – as well as antique toys and countless collectables. The bathroom alone dis­played autographs from Babe Ruth and, Sophia Loren as well as Winters Bank checks signed by the Wright Brothers.

   But even more than giving Fortnow, his father and countless audiences unforgettable comedy routines, Winters influenced two generations of comedians. Moreover, many people feel that Winters has been somewhat forgotten.

   “We wanted to bring some recognition to him,” Fortnow said. “He changed comedy. He invented improv comedy. He invented a form of comedy that was before its time.”

   Fortnow also wants to introduce a new gen­eration to Winters. In addition to the film, he has started a petition urging President Obama to de­clare a National Jonathan Winters Day. To sign the petition, go to change.org, click on browse, and search Jonathan Winters.

“He had no idea how many fans he had, and how they felt about him,” Fortnow said.

 

• “Certifiably Jonathan” is available on Mov­ies On Demand, Netflix and on DVD. For more information, please visit certifiablyjonathan.com. To view the petition to declare National Jonathan Winters Day, please visit change.org.​

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Published in South Dayton Magazine:

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IN CONCERT WITH NATURE

Three Trees Farm Nurtures Nutrition with Flavor

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by Rick Eichhorn

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When talking farming with Matt Brown, he always seems to take it back to the earth and staying in tune with Mother Nature.  In 2018, Matt, wife Kim and three sons, followed their passion and began the eight-acre Three Trees Farm just outside of Bellbrook.

“Quality starts with the soil for everything,” Matt says, noting that with healthy soil, produce has higher nutritional content, richer aroma, and more flavor.  “That plant is set on a path to success.”

A scenic setting enhances Three Trees Farm, where young chickens fly the fence and mingle with cats around the majestic roadside barn.  A step beyond organic, the Browns consider their operation a biointensive produce farm, utilizing high-quality organic fertilizers, natural compost and minerals, and manual weed control.

When Spring hits, the barn will become a small market farm, offering, as Matt puts it, “everything on the outside aisles of a grocery store.”

 

5 TIPS FOR COMPOSTING

1. Size matters—for the pile and for the material.  Uniform small particles expedite the process.  The larger the pile the better, at least 2 cubic yards is recommended

2. Have 25 parts Carbon (brown, woody material) to 1 part Nitrogen (green material – grass, manure, food scraps---no meat.)

3. Turn, or stir, the pile at least once a week. Water thoroughly and often to keep from drying out.

4. Smell is important.  Good compost should smell rich and earthy.  Bad smells are an indicator of Anaerobic (without air) activity and can usually be remedied by turning the pile.

5. The pile should reach an internal temperature in excess of 131 F for at least 3 days.  If temperature lowers, something is missing, either air, Carbon or water.  Compost is ready when pile returns to ambient temperature, and resembles rich, dark and loamy soil.

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YOU HAVE AN ENGINEERING DEGREE, YOUR WIFE WAS A TEACHER, WHY FARMING?

My Great Grandfather was an immigrant farmer. He farmed 86 acres near Oxford.  My Grandpa had a large garden on that same farm, and as a young boy I had great times with him.  As Kim and I started to build a family, we found food quality more and more important.

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WHAT INSPIRES YOU ABOUT FARMING?

People want what they believe is the best.  Growing healthy food for my community, educating people where their food comes from—I feel that’s important. I’ve met so many people that I would’ve never met—from all walks of life.  That’s been a blessing.

 

WHAT CAN A HOME GARDENER DO TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH?

“Lasagna gardening” is super applicable for the home gardener.  First clear the area of all weeds.  Then cover with cardboard, and then water.  Next put a layer of leaves or grass clippings, and water. The last layer is quality compost.

 

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For Pitcheo.com:

 

BRAND YOUR STARTUP ON A SHOESTRING

Focus On: Andrea Shillington

 

by Rick Eichhorn

A BRAND NEW DAY

 

     In more ways than one, it’s an exciting new global market out there for business. Customers are choosing brands that align with their values because they see through marketing superlatives.  In other words, the new consumer can see through the fluff.  Ask Andrea Shillington about it, and she might point out, “There’s a whole new type of shopper.  A conscious shopper.”  She adds, “Consumer behavior is changing.  Information is available right now and people are yearning for an authentic connection with the products and services they buy.”

     With a world operating at breakneck speed, brand and credibility become essential.  Sure, anyone can hire an agency, buy a logo, choose a color scheme, adopt a catchphrase, and dive into the business pool with their very own Startup.  Andrea takes it a step further.  As she puts it, “Just buying a logo is not approaching things strategically from the beginning.”

     Not to mention the fact that hiring an advertising agency is expensive.  Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Andrea states that 98 percent of Canadian businesses earn less than $250,000 in annual revenue.  On that note, she’s put together a Play called “Brand Your Startup On A Shoestring,” which is featured on the website, StartupPlays.com.  “Branding is helping businesses determine who they want to be,” Andrea says.  “A brand is who you are.  It’s a CEO initiative test.  A truthful, authentic reflection of who the leader is.”

     In five steps, Andrea’s Play guides the entrepreneur through the rigorous task of creating a brand for the very first time; or, how to re-brand an existing business.  Today’s global market has created completely new ways for marketing businesses.  “The social network has leveled the playing field,” Andrea says.

 

THE LIKE, KNOW, AND TRUST FACTOR

 

     Andrea got her start in the corporate world, including stints in Europe and more than five years in Dubai.  In fields ranging from hospitality to government, she “cut her teeth in Brand Strategy.”  A self-described brave, crazy decision first led her to follow her dreams oversees, and then she returned to Canada to apply her experience in the growing startup scene around Vancouver.  And, perhaps, because she missed the mountains.  “I ended up following my heart,” she says of her journey.

     Andrea is quick to point out that “customers are smart.”  She speaks about the like, know, and trust factor that’s necessary for a successful startup.  She speaks about probing the aspiring entrepreneur to find out what drives them, what is their vision, what is their purpose.  “We all have a purpose to live in this life,” she says.  “Business is a way to channel that purpose.”

     What Andrea offers is not a prescription.  She does not tell people what to do.  That is something that, in order to be successful, they have to discover for themselves.  Indeed, Andrea is not limited to Brand Strategy; what Andrea offers could be described as a Clarity Specialist.  “I’m not going to judge,” she emphasizes.  “Everyone knows their own answer.” 

 

INFORMATION IS CURRENCY

 

     “Brand Your Startup On A Shoestring” is a Play filled with tools that ultimately will help the entrepreneur find his or her path to a successful startup business.  One nugget of advice Andrea offers: “You need to figure out what you can give away for free.”  This doesn’t have to be a product or a gimmick.  It could be information in the form of a report, a blog, or, as in Andrea’s case, an eBook.  Sharing information builds trust, especially when that information comes from experience and hard work.

      The ultimate goal, of course, is to create a business for yourself that compels you to get up every morning and put in the work.  Andrea’s Play is organized under the headings, or milestones, of Purpose, Vision, Values, Positioning, and Promise.  For example, if you’re thinking in terms of where you want to be in five to 10 years, it might influence what you name your business today and possibly save you the expense of a re-brand in the future. Discovering the core values of your business and articulating them in a truthful manner, anchors your business and keeps everyone on the same page.  A positioning strategy is key to making your business stand out from the crowd.  One way to do this is to learn about your audience.  A tagline is creating a Promise that will inspire customers to take notice.

     In the end, it’s all about discovering and being true to your greater purpose.  This will lead to a successful business strategy.  Whether you do it now or down the road, Andrea explains, “You will eventually do it.”  She adds, “A startup business can make a big difference for the greater good of the world.”

 

SNAPSHOT:  Andrea’s eBook is available at www.brandsforthepeople.com/brand-tools

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From the Citrus County Chronicle, April 17, 2003:

 

The Inside Smile

Relocating tortoises is rough but rewarding work

 

By Rick Eichhorn

For the Chronicle

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Pity the poor gopher tortoise.  It could be called the Rodney Dangerfield of the protected species.  With no flashy moves, no luxurious fur coat, and no ferocious roar, the humble creature seems to get no respect.

Still, with its friendly cartoon features, the tortoise is capable of lighting up a child’s face by simply venturing out of its burrow, or by shyly hiding its head inside its shell.  Don’t be fooled, however, the slow-moving tortoise is actually one busy reptile that does more than its share of the ecological workload.

Count Sharon Karsen as one person who has come to respect, admire, and appreciate the tortoise.  Growing up in Tampa in the 1950s, Karsen said that she enjoyed a neighborhood that included an abundance of nature and wildlife, including the gopher tortoise. She left Florida when she married her husband, Hank, moving to his home state of New Jersey.  They lived in New Jersey for more than 30 years, returning to Tampa occasionally for visits her parents. It was during those visits that she noticed that the natural oasis of her childhood was fast being overtaken by development. Then, in 1996, the Karsens returned to Florida, settling in Sugarmill Woods.

"It reminded me of Tampa when I was a kid in the fifties," she said, "because the wildlife was abundant and Sugarmill Woods was supposed to be founded on the principal of living in harmony with wildlife and nature."

But, Karsen said, even though Sugarmill Woods contained an extensive system of greenbelts, and wildlife was abundant, not all was harmonious. The gopher turtle was a prime example.

"The more I looked into it I didn't see that anyone was living in harmony with gopher tortoises," Karsen said. "They were being bulldozed right and left."

She said that the tortoise population in the state has decreased 50 percent in the last three decades. This is due primarily to loss of habitat and to development.

Native to Florida, the gopher tortoise is classified by the state as a "species with special concerns." An herbivore, the harmless reptile prefers upland habitats with soils deep enough to dig burrows 6 to 22 feet deep that can twist and turn for up to 45 feet. The burrow is also key to the survival of other rare and endangered species, and the burrowing activities of the tortoise stir up minerals that replenish the top soil. Therefore, the tortoise is considered a "keystone species."

Unfortunately, some of the tortoises most favorite spots to burrow, such as Sugarmill Woods and western Citrus County, are also the favorite spots of developers. They both like the highlands.

When the Karsens moved into their Sugarmill Woods home, there were four burrows nearby. Thanks to her vigilance, the burrows are still active.

But around the neighborhood, she came to notice, when a lot was sold the builder would come in with a bulldozer and level the land, including any burrows and tortoises. Karsen noted that the state laws were ambiguous at best when it came to surveying individual lots for protected species before building.

"I couldn't understand how a protected species had no protection," she said.

In many ways, the builders were caught up in a sort of environmental catch-22. Being a protected species, moving a tortoise off a lot required a permit, and a permit could take one-to-three months.

That’s when Karsen discovered Ray Ashton, one of the directors of the Ashton Biodiversity Research & Preservation Institute, Inc.  One of the group's projects is the Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative (GTCI). Their goal is to come up with economic and environmentally sustainable solutions for protecting the gopher tortoise.  Karsen organized a speaking engagement for Ashton at Sugarmill Woods.

"His whole life is dedicated to coming up with logical solutions to help save and preserve the gopher tortoise," Karsen said of Ashton.

With his guidance, a group of volunteers learned how to obtain a permit, as well as the proper way to trap and relocate a tortoise. Then, because of Sugarmill Woods abundant greenbelts, Ashton was able to obtain a "blanket permit" for Sugarmill Woods from the state. Technically, the volunteers were not actually relocating the tortoises, the tortoises were staying within the development of Sugarmill Woods.

The volunteers, known as Gopher Tortoise Community Stewards, divvied up the areas of Sugarmill Woods, with Karsen coordinating Cypress Village. Another coordinator, Deborah Christensen, handles Oak Village South, and she said she finds the work very rewarding.

"People are interested in trying to keep as much of the flora and fauna in Sugarmill Woods as possible," Christensen said.

That's not an easy task. Building a trap for a tortoise is heavy work. In the summer, traps need to be checked three times a day, because the intense heat could kill a trapped tortoise in a few hours. Then, once a tortoise is caught, the first priority is attempting to discover if the reptile has another burrow. That means patiently watching the tortoise to see where it goes. Bursts of speed, sprinting, are not exactly in a tortoise’s repertoire.

"If you actually catch a tortoise it can be a very interesting high," Christensen said. "You get that inside smile."

By anyone's measure, the volunteers have been successful, relocating a high number of tortoises last year. Even more exciting, a number of golf ball-sized eggs were found, and some of these were hatched by using Ashton's methods.  The hatchlings were then released.

These days, Karsen often finds herself with bug bites and ticks up to her knees. Her trunk is filled will all sorts of equipment, for building traps and such.

Some people have started calling her "Tortoise Lady," but she just shrugs and says that she doesn't mind. People that get involved in causes often seem to get a moniker, she said. "I know a Bear Lady."

She added, "I was not a tortoise fanatic until I moved here. I've always been an animal lover. Human beings are their caretakers."

 

FACT BOX:

Able-bodied volunteers are needed in SMW. For more information, contact the Oak Village Association at (352) 382-8992. For Cypress Village, call (XXX) XXX-XXXX.For more information about the Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative, call (352) 495-7449

 

From The Dayton City Paper:

 

The Perfect Art of Chamber Music

Vanguard Concerts presents clarinetist Narek Arutyunian

 

By Rick Eichhorn

 

When talking about all the work and effort that’s gone into more than 52 years of Vanguard Concerts, George W. Houk wants to make one thing perfectly clear: “It’s been a lot of fun.” Houk was one of the original guar­antors for the chamber concerts that were the brainchild of Vince and Elana Bolling. The Bollings, both de­voted music lovers, met at Ohio State University, married and landed in Dayton. Mr. Bolling settled into the role of a young chief executive of a family-owned energy firm, while Mrs. Bolling volunteered as a docent at the Dayton Art Institute. Their com­bined love of the visual and perform­ing arts fueled a dream of bringing to Dayton the finest ensembles, soloists and small orchestras from around the world.

     Although a bit cautious at first, they soon found a fast ally in Thomas C. Colt Jr., who was the director of the Dayton Art Institute. Skeptics told the Bollings it would take at least three years to present a season of world-class concerts. They achieved it in six months. Armed with Mr. Bolling’s powerful persuasive skills, they vis­ited talent agencies in New York City, obtaining and presenting Colt with yet-unsigned contracts for a series of six concerts featuring musical greats. From there, everything fell into place, including securing the beautiful, 500- seat Renaissance Auditorium at the DAI.

 “It’s one of the most acoustically perfect venues for chamber music in the U.S.,” Houk said, adding, “ … the clarity, the accuracy and precision of chamber mu­sic, the intimate connection between the audience and the musician. You can see the body language. “

 In addition to writing an entertaining and detailed book chronicling the first 50 years of the Vanguard Concerts titled, “Innocent Impresarios,” Houk has helped with publicity and writes program notes. Today, he’s working on the notes for this Sunday’s per­formance of young clarinetist, Narek Arutyunian, who’s managed by the New York talent agency, Young Con­cert Artists, Inc. Founded in 1961 by Susan Wadsworth, YCA is dedicated to discovering and launching the ca­reers of exceptional young prodigies from around the world. To get in, musicians must win an international audition, and then they’re booked for performances all over the world.

 “What YCA does is give musi­cians passes to the music world, to the music business,” Arutyunian said. “It opens the doors. Also, the experi­ence is amazing. I’ve changed so much and progressed so much. I’ve become a better musician and met amazing people.”

 Arutyunian has played in more countries than he can list, as well as in 14 states. The Wash­ington Post wrote that he “reaches pas­sionate depths with seemingly effortless technical prowess and beguiling sensitivity.”

 Accompanying Arutyunian at the Renaissance Auditorium will be young pianist Yekwon Sunwoo. They have played two concerts together, the most recent at Germany’s Use­domer Musikfestival. The program is mostly contemporary or late 20th century music and is designed to appeal to audiences of all ages. Aru­tyunian noted the concert in Dayton will be similar to the German per­formance, although he teased, “I’m thinking of playing some new pieces as well.”

 Born in 1992 in Gyumri, Armenia, Arutyunian grew up listening to his father play folk music on the clarinet. His first instrument was the recorder, a woodwind, although he always loved the way the clarinet sounded and looked. Soon, he picked up the clarinet at the “kind of late” age of 10. His parents told him he had to learn the basics first, which was classical music. Unlike most kids, his parents never had to nag him to practice.

 “I was always practicing,” he said. “I would lock myself in my room and practice.”

 These days, Arutyunian is finish­ing his undergraduate degree at Juil­liard and now considers New York City “his number one city in the world.” In his spare time, he loves to explore the city, watch movies, catch up on Breaking Bad and study lan­guages. This will be his first perfor­mance in Ohio, and he was quick to say he’s “very excited to be coming to Dayton.”

 The Bollings became involved with YCA in the 1960s, and the ar­rangement fit nicely with their goal of bringing a vibrant mix of extraor­dinarily talented musicians of all ages and renown. Houk credits the Bol­lings with introducing him to cham­ber music, which he describes as “mu­sic written for a small venue, a small space – a personal space. It can range from a single musician to a piano trio, a string quartet, up to a chamber or­chestra. We’ve had as many as 21 mu­sicians on our stage.”

Remarked Arutyunian, “Chamber is the perfect way of music. It is the core of everything.” He quickly added, “There is no life for chamber music without the clarinet.”

     The YCA also fit nicely into the Vanguard’s goal of community out­reach. Often, musicians from YCA are able to spend extra time to visit Dayton area schools, performing and holding master classes, which play an instrumental role in continuing to bring chamber music to new audienc­es. On a different level of community outreach, throughout the years, Van­guard’s volunteers have been known to host post-concert dinners in down­town restaurants or one another’s homes. In addition to offering an op­portunity for music lovers to network, Houk noted the word soon got out that musicians “will be very well treated and well fed in Dayton.”

      Mrs. Bolling once wrote that she found the Dayton Art Institute to be a haven of beauty and restora­tion of spirit. The Bollings enriched that sentiment by creating more than 50 years of exquisite chamber music, with their legacy still un­folding.

     “It sort of rounds out the DAI offer­ings to the community,” Houk said.

 

Narek Arutyunian will perform at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26 in the Renais­sance Auditorium at the Dayton Art Institute, located at 456 Belmonte Park North. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students. Parking is free in an adjacent lot. For more information please visit daytonartinstitute.org.

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From South Dayton Magazine:

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­­When Passions Get Tapped

Warped Wing Brewers Love Their Craft

 

by Rick Eichhorn

 

For sure, John Haggerty was going to be an architect.  After graduating from Miami University in 1991 with his degree in Architecture, he was about to embark on his dream career.  Or was he?

Things first got a bit off track when in a moment of “what’s next?” a professor suggested Seattle.  “I think you’d like Seattle,” the prof encouraged.

Haggerty, a home beer brewer at the time, landed a job at Seattle’s Big Time Brewery & Alehouse.  And the rest, as the cliché goes, just like Orville and Wilbur Wright, is Dayton history.

Honing his craft, Haggerty did stints at breweries in Wisconsin and Minnesota, among others.  Eventually, he desired to move from “pub brewer to production brewer;” however, there was a caveat.  He needed his Brewmaster Certificate to advance further.

Although there’s prestigious schools in Chicago and California for the certificate, in 2001 Haggerty made a life-changing commitment and traveled to Germany to attend the renowned VLB Berlin, a beer institute founded in 1883 and located in the heart of Berlin’s Wedding District. VLB stands for Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauere, which translates as “research and teaching institute for breweries.”

Flash forward to 2014, when together with Joe Waizman, Mike Stover, and Nick Bowman, the Warped Wing Brewing Company was founded.  With a nod to Dayton history, the name of the company is inspired by the Wright Brother’s patented invention of “wing warping,” a clever wing mechanism based on bird dynamics designed to keep the plane stabilized.

Of their name, Brewmaster Haggerty explains, “I think it helps in terms of getting a foothold in Dayton.  People will say, oh that’s interesting.  I wonder what the significance of that name is.”

THE CREW

For 15 years, Fred Pallant was stuck in a cubicle “staring at a computer screen all day” as he practiced the drudgery of being a structural engineer.  Add to that the insecurity of the business, and after four jobs in 10 years, he came to the realization that, “I never felt like I had fulfilling career.”

One Christmas, his parents gave him a home-brewing kit.  That ignited dormant thoughts and soon he was mulling over in his mind, “I wonder if I can turn this into a job.”

In 2009, he took a sabbatical and went on a three-month trip to Europe.  There, he fell in love with beer.  Not just the different types of beer, but the culture of beer.  The reverence the countries seemed to have for beer. 

While keeping a toehold in his structural engineering jobs, Pallant achieved his Brewmaster Certificate with a nine-month online program.  Today, he is the Head Brewer at Warped Wing.

A similar tale can be told about another of Warped Wing’s brewers, Doug Camfield.  He was an Independent Contractor with NASA but found himself on projects where “you never see an end.”

“I’ve always had a love for beer,” Camfield explains about his career change. “I’d been trying to get into the brew industry for a long time.”

Although the work is physically grueling, these days Camfield sees the fruits of his labors with constant creations of beers such as “Flyer Red,” “Liquid Picnic,” and “Space Food.”

“The process itself is what’s exciting for us,” he says.  “It’s always a learning process.”

A LITTLE HISTORY, A BIG FUTURE

As Haggerty tells it, after the depression, and after feelings of the strong pangs of deprivation, the country was in the mood of just making sure they had enough.  That led to mass production of everything from bread to beer.  But it was all the same beer, an American light lager. 

Ironically, it was the tea-totaling Jimmy Carter who passed legislation that opened the field for craft beer.  Starting on the coasts, and like the trend of “farm-to-table” restaurants, soon the entire country was clamoring for more taste and variety in their beer, as well as a desire to know their brewer.

Warped Wing stokes this ambience by encouraging employees to bring their families into the taproom and interact with the customers. With a backdrop of the production equipment, this definitely lets the consumer know where their favorite beer is created.

“I want them to bring their mom and dad in here,” Haggerty says of the crew.  “I want you to be proud of where you work.”

These days, Warped Wing has evolved to two owners: Haggerty and Bowman.  And as far as the craft beer craze, Haggerty foresees no end in sight.  This is true especially for the small upstart breweries and restaurants that brew their own beer. 

For their part, this upcoming June, the company will open the Warped Wing Brewing Company Barrel Room & Smokery at Wright Station in Springboro. The 20,000-square-foot distribution center will include a taproom, eatery, outdoor biergarten, a 400-barrel aging space, a “test-pilot” brewery, as well as canning and packaging facilities.

Meanwhile, Haggerty occasionally takes time from his busy schedule to give talks at schools encouraging students to discover a career path centered around what they love.  Then, once you’ve found what you want, no matter where you start on the ladder, take responsibility and strive to constantly add new skills to your repertoire.  Eventually, the money will come.

“At the end of the day you don’t go to work for the money,” Haggerty says.  “So, like what you do.”

 

 

Published on thejobsdailymail.com, in April, 2015

 

WISCONSIN SET TO BECOME 25th RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE

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By Rick Eichhorn

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By a party-line vote of 62 to 35, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed Senate Bill 44, commonly referred to as right-to-work legislation. Following Friday’s passage, Republican Governor and likely 2016 presidential candidate, Scott Walker issued a statement that he will sign the bill on Monday. Under Wisconsin law, the bill would then go in effect the following day.

“This freedom-to-work legislation will give workers the freedom to choose whether or not they want to join a union, and employers another compelling reason to consider expanding or moving their business to Wisconsin,” Governor Walker stated.

Democrats and unions opposed to the law believe it will lower worker wages, hurt the middle class, and increase workplace injuries. In addition, the Assembly Democrats were upset that the bill was fast-tracked by the Committee on Senate Organization. An “Extraordinary Session” was declared and discussion carried through the night before the 9 a.m. vote. Ten amendments were proposed on Thursday, on a variety of issues that included criminal penalties, political contributions, and work injury supplements. None of the amendments were adopted.

Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca responded with a strong statement condemning the legislation. He emphasized that the bill will drive down wages, hurt small businesses, put the state’s training programs at risk, and not have any positive economic impact.
 
“At a time when Wisconsin families need higher wages and more economic opportunity, our workers instead will suffer at the hands of this cynical political maneuver that puts right-wing special interests and Gov. Walker’s political ambitions above the people and businesses of Wisconsin. This is a very destructive bill for the middle class and small business that is an example of right-wing extremism on steroids,” Rep. Barca stated, adding, “Seventy-five years of labor peace is rammed through in less than two weeks.”

Right-to-work laws prohibit employers and unions from requiring an employee to pay dues or fees to a union in order to keep his or her job. The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 prohibited requirement in union membership; however, unions circumvented this law by charging fees, often called “agency fees,” where a worker received union representation but was not a union member. Such fees are prohibited by law for use in certain activities such as supporting political parties. Union members have expressed concerns about freeloaders, workers who receive the benefits from unions without any contributions.

Wisconsin now joins Michigan and Indiana as Midwestern right-to-work states. Up until 2012, the majority of right-to-work states were in the south. Midwest proponents of right-to-work legislation believe the laws are needed for states to have any chance to compete for new businesses.

Vincent Vernuccio, director of labor policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, spoke before the Wisconsin legislature on Feb. 24. He characterized right-to-work laws as protecting worker freedoms. He said that wage growth as well as union membership in right-to-work states has outpaced non-right-to-work states.

“Unions can’t take dues for granted,” he said of right-to-work states.  “They have to prove themselves.  It will make them stronger.”