One of the most wonderful (and sometimes challenging) things about what Planet Improv (and I) do is that it is rarely the same thing or has the same schedule every day.

I started my professional career in call centers where I did the same thing repeatedly day after day.  Even though I was always successful this work did not mesh well with my need for new, fresh and varying challenges.

Beyond all the other skillsets that that work taught me it also led me to my eventual passions, performance, training, education and mentorship.

I have been the Founder (and Executive Director) of Planet Improv, Incorporation, a nonprofit organization, since 2006, and the Founder and President of Planet Improv Educational Services, LLC, a for profit organization, since 2018.

When you ask a business owner, or a multiple business owner, about when they take time off, they will candidly admit that although you may not be completing a business-related task at any given moment, you think about, plan and/or worry about your business(es) 24/7/365.

All that being said let’s review a representative month in the life of myself and Planet Improv, January 2025 and how we do our best to “empower resilience in students through creativity.”

Responsibilities in general…

  • Visionary Leadership and Strategic Direction
  • Fundraising and Resource Development
  • Financial Oversight and Management
  • Staff and Volunteer Management
  • Legal and Ethical Governance
  • Community Outreach and Advocacy
  • Charitable Program Development, Delivery and Impact Assessment
  • Risk Management
  • Board Relations and Governance
  • Public Relations and Communications
  • Seek out and take advantage of Educational Opportunities on a daily and weekly basis

More specific Activities…

  • Teaching our Drama Elective Classes at Wilson STEM Academy
  • Teaching our Social Emotional Education Creativity Classes at The Epiphany School of Charlotte
  • Planning and facilitating our Mendez Foundation “Too Good for Drugs” K-5 educational sessions
  • Attending our weekly Business Networking International (BNI) meetings and the affiliated responsibilities to be a member in good standing
  • Attending “Creative Morning Charlotte” meetings
  • Writing and posting our weekly “Orbiting the Planet” blog on planetimprov.org and via
  • Planning and facilitating our Charlotte Mecklenburg School (CMS) After School Enrichment Program (ASEP) sessions
  • Planning and facilitating our Arts and Science Council (ASC) School Funding Opportunity (SFO) sessions
  • Attending our Youth Violence Prevention Conference Planning Committee meetings
  • Maintaining our relationship with Mecklenburg ABC Board through trainings and facilitating educational sessions funded by their grants
  • Attending SHARE Charlotte meetings and special events
  • Researching, planning and writing grant funding proposals
  • Maintaining our relationship with the YWCA Central Carolinas and facilitating educational sessions for their students
  • Networking (face to face, virtually and via telephone) both initiating new collaborations/partnerships and nurturing new ones
  • Attending Social Architect Nonprofit Capacity Building sessions
  • Planning and conducting Planet Improv Incorporated Board of Director meetings
  • Attending Mecklenburg Kiwanis Club meetings and facilitating Kiwanis Terrific Kid celebrations
  • Maintaining our relationships with Mecklenburg County, NC educational organizations and facilitating educational sessions for their students
  • Attending Charlotte Violence Prevention Collaborative meetings
  • Attending The Way Home Charlotte Mecklenburg community violence reduction meetings and special events
  • Performing/Hosting/Planning various improvisational theatre and murder mystery educational shows throughout North Carolina
  • Maintaining our relationship with Charlotte Mecklenburg School (CMS) Strategic Partnership
  • Preparing for Summer 2025 summer camps

…amongst many, many other obligations.

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It is at this time that I usually joke to an extremely busy professional, “…but what do you do with all your free time?”

Achieving all the items I listed above on a daily, weekly, monthly and/or yearly basis can be overwhelming at times.  Especially when you are a grassroots organization/organization leader with a meager budget, perpetual financial concerns and no compensated employees except yourself.

I/we have been so very fortunate to meet, partner and collaborate with so many dedicated and passional professionals and community leaders/members over the last 24 years that often take some of those rocks off my back or at least lend an ear for me to vent my frustrations.

When I lay my head on my pillow at night, I try to comfort myself that what I/we are giving back to the community is worth the challenges.

I/we are blessed to do what we do.

And I/we hope to continue doing it until I am physically and/or mentally unable to do so.

And for those of you out there doing similarly I am proud to be one of you.