BE A BALLER -"Building a lifelong legacy"

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Rick Hogan is a proud lifelong resident of Toledo, Ohio and an Ohio University Graduate School of Business Marketing Major.

Rick Hogan is a 26 year experienced General Manager with Fleming Street Communication, WJUC 107.3.The Juice is the first African American owned and operated station in Toledo beginning broadcasting in 1997. The vision of station Charles “Charlie Chuck” Welch a former DJ.

In addition, to his General Manager role Rick hosts a weekly Saturday morning radio show that focuses on community concerns, local and national news, events and initiatives that serve the community’s interest.

He heads various community projects such as the Annual Turkey Give, Annual Christmas Family Adoption, African American Legacy Project, Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity Blitz Build, Caring for Caregivers Expo and the Annual Back to School Supply Giveaway

Prior to joining WJUC Hogan served was a Activities Therapist for 13 years with the Ohio Department of Youth Services where he developed and implemented programs in art, music, sports and education. Hogan specialized in working with youth who were incarcerated as well as youth with substance abuse.

When not working Hogan enjoys spending time with his family, (especially his Dad), travelling, bowling, golfing, volunteering with the city of Toledo, OH and watching his daughter compete in golf.

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a trailblazer in the world of sports? How about understanding the journey of someone who transitioned from playing college football to becoming the second African American athletic director at a Power Five school? Gene Smith, Athletic Director at Ohio State University, takes us through his inspiring journey, unveiling his passion for sports, his challenging transitions, and the lessons learned in the pursuit of excellence.
As we unfold Gene's story, he shares his mission of being missed - a concept that revolves around building strong relationships and a memorable presence. He navigates us through his leadership lessons from the fields to the boardroom. You'll also hear about his remarkable achievements during his tenure at Ohio State and the significance of emotional intelligence in leading successfully.
Our conversation would be incomplete without discussing the impact of mentoring the next generaration, of college sports leaders . Gene's philosophy on values, integrity, and personal growth forms the bedrock of his leadership and helping others reach great success . He shares stories of creating a positive environment for his team. As we wrap up the episode, we express gratitude for Gene's relentless contributions towards equality in athletics and his lessons of reaching back to pull up the next generation. Join us, and let's be inspired to always strive to be a baller!

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Ray Miller is the President & Publisher of The Columbus & Dayton African American news journal and a former Ohio State Senator. Mr. Miller is a Life Member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the NAACP. In addition, he is an active member of Second Baptist Church located in Columbus, Ohio.
In January of 2011, Mr. Miller founded The Columbus African American news journal. The publication has quickly grown to become the largest, most broadly circulated minority focused print medium in Columbus and Central Ohio. Due to its success, in August of 2017, Miller expanded the news journal to include the city of Dayton, Ohio. The journal is well known for its substantive content and excellent contributing writers who are clearly focused on their mission, which is to educate, inform, and empower the community.
Totally committed to developing the next generation of young leaders, Mr. Miller created the Ray Miller Institute for Change and Leadership at The Ohio State University Department of African American and African Studies and The Progressive Leadership Academy to insure the knowledge and wisdom of selected leaders is passed on to those who will soon succeed them. Admission to the Leadership Academy is in great demand and the curriculum consists of high level presentations, readings, team projects and community service. Collectively, there are 390 graduates of the program.
For 24 years, Miller served as a member of the Ohio General Assembly--16 years in the House of Representatives and eight years as a State Senator. He was a prolific legislator and is well known for being the chief sponsor of legislation which established the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, The Institute for Urban Education at Central State University, the Mental Health Reform Act, first-time State funding for Head Start in the State of Ohio and many other public policy and systemic change initiatives.
During his extensive professional career, Miller has served at the executive level within organized labor, business, higher education and the Federal Government, as a Deputy Special Assistant on the White House Staff of President Jimmy Carter.
A highly requested public speaker, Mr. Miller has delivered countless keynote addresses throughout the State of Ohio and the nation. He is blessed to have received more than 600 local, state and national awards for his legislative accomplishments and community service.
Miller previously served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Central State University. Mr. Miller holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from The Ohio State University. He and his wife Marty have one son, Ray Miller III.

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Gerry Hammond is the founder of Hammond Golf Academy. Gerry is a PGA Teaching Professional who has always felt a call to service. After playing basketball at Ohio University in 1988 he changed directions accepting a golf scholarship to St Augustine University, where he served as team captain, winning several championships and awards. Upon graduation, Gerry played golf professionally competing on numerous tours before joining the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) and reaching the elite ‘Class A’ status.
As a visionary and change agent, Gerry accepted and began his gift of teaching, while focusing on youth and instilling the inherent values of golf, including lessons on honesty, integrity, discipline, academic excellence, teamwork, and service. And for nearly 25 years, he has been a beloved coach and mentor to hundreds of children throughout Ohio, using golf as a tool to open doors, leading to economic, professional and personal success.
Gerry never imagined, however, that his career in golf would lead to an even higher calling, until one night.
“It came in a dream six years ago,” Gerry says “God visited me and told me he wanted me to show His strength on Earth in numbers. In the dream I saw a silhouette of a t-shirt. It was a powerful vision and I felt compelled to carry out His charge.”
As the blueprint for a social enterprise emerged, Gerry made a personal commitment to God that he would invest 51% of the company’s net profits back into the global community. Gerry states that “InTheNumber® is not my company, it’s Gods company, He’s majority owner so 51% is going back to Him and His creation.” “This is all a pass through for us and what better way than to collectively come together as a human race, putting all of our differences and challenges aside and looking out for one another and the word we live in.”

The offspring of InTheNumber is the Be Counted Foundation.

Mission Statement: To curate a global “team” comprised of every individual with the mindset that personal and united accountability can enhance the world in which we live. Unity is the goal. Compassion is the guidance. Humanity is the gift.

Vision Statement: The Be Counted Foundation believes every individual can change the world. We work to build upon innate and unique human abilities within the scope of Education, Health, Human Rights and our Environment to equip the global race with the skills needed to make our planet a more inclusive and fruitful place to live for all.

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Dr. Mike Hayes Head of School at Worthington Christian Schools joins us to share how those foundational principles from Sidney, Ohio, infused his life's work, emphasizing 'team' over 'me' and the transformative power of sports and mentorship. The power of faith and hymns like "Great is Thy Faithfulness" resonates through our heartfelt discussion with Dr. Hayes as we navigate his spiritual journey and the calling that led him to Christian education.
Tales of how faith has anchored his dedication to nurturing young minds serve as a reminder of the vital role educators play, especially in our current landscape faced with unprecedented challenges. Dr. Hayes personal commitment shines as we unveil the simple yet impactful ways of affirming students' value—be it attending their extracurricular events or offering a listening ear.
As we wrap up, Dr. Hayes paints a vivid picture of how Worthington Christian Schools molds servant leaders embodying the mind of Christ. The episode closes with an invitation to reflect on the legacy we're crafting daily. It's an inspiring call to action—whether you're a parent, teacher, or leader—to be a 'baller' in every facet of your life, ensuring your imprint withstands the test of time. Join us as we celebrate the journey of legacy building with the insights and stories that make us who we are.

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