Holgie Loves the Cowboy
January 16th, 2010 by Julia TaylorArt finds a place in life sometimes where you least expect it. We were in California last month, visiting the community of 29 Palms and met a local artist, a photo-realism painter, Chuck Caplinger. He lives in a dome in the desert and his wife, Holgie Forrester, is an actor. When you meet her you know you’ve seen her in commercials, television and film over the years. She started her career when she was 10 years old with Disney on Stage.
Holgie Forrester’s filmography.
Chuck is a well-know muralist and became famous 30 years ago on the Hollywood scene with his wall size paintings for Hollywood celebs particularly Marilyn Monroe. Visit Desert Art Studio here.
In his very early career as a musician he traveled the jazz world and worked with Sammy Davis Jr. Chuck was born in Texas, still sports the boots and accent and Holgie calls him Cowboy.
Fifteen years ago Chuck and Holgie moved from the LA scene to the desert and they both have worked hard to create an economy that will sustain artists with formation of a cultural center, funding for a series of murals around town and a school arts program. This is a small community outside of Joshua Tree which is now becoming a destination community with new restaurants and art galleries.
But what was most surprising was how Holgie uses her acting skills to help prepare marines on the local base to live and survive in Afghanistan and Iraqi villages. She works with the soldiers and American-Afghanistan Iraqi citizens to create real life scenarios for the soldiers so they can quickly acclimate to life in these villages. She saves lives with her acting and direction.
Art finds a way to change the way we live each day.
Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, once said “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
May we not be afraid to be creative and make some mistakes and may our best mistakes create art in the way we live!
For those who want to a little video recounting of the trip–here is an animoto version.
A few pictures on the road from Palm Springs, 29 Palms and LA at the end of 2009 with music by Benjamin Biolay
So you want to start a business….NOW?
January 13th, 2010 by Julia TaylorA New Year begins with sense of new things possible in our lives. So suppose you’ve been thinking about that business you’ve always been wanting to start. Economic times are tough. What advice would our community of CEOs give you?
Here’s the responses from some of our region’s top and innovative CEOs.
What advice would you give someone starting a company or a spin-off now? Opportunities? Cautions?
Sheldon Lubar, Chairman, Lubar & Company:
“Do all of your homework before you start and be certain you have commitments for the necessary start up money.”
Paul Purcell, Chairman/President/CEO, Robert W. Baird & Company:
“This is a good time to start a business form an economic point of view but very challenging from a political point of view with regard to increased health care costs, taxes and increased regulation.”
Dan Steininger, President, Steininger & Associates & BizStarts Milwaukee:
“Since the launch of BizStarts Milwaukee we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of new potential high-growth companies getting started. The deal flow to our Angel investment network, the Successful Entrepreneur Investors, has been up dramatically in 2009. We see that trend line continuing even stronger in 2010.
This is important because the Wisconsin economy has lost so many jobs. The key to job growth is to start new companies. Major corporations will continue to be reluctant employers of new employees. The trend line of downsizing by major corporations is not simply result of this recent recession but it’s been going on for the last quarter of a century.”
Jill Morin, Executive Officer, Kahler Slater:
“My advice to anyone starting a business is to be clear about the kind of company you want to be and the kinds of experiences you want to provide to your clients, your employees — all of your stakeholders. Having a vision for your future success that authentically differentiates you in the marketplace is the key to success. Then, hold to that vision, even when the going gets rough, and make it manifest in everything you do.”
Austin Ramirez, CEO, INCOVA Technologies:
“If you can access sufficient capital, now is a great time to launch a new business due to high availability of talented employees and the many changes in government and private sectors that have been forced by the recession will generate new value creation opportunities.”
Tim Sullivan, President & CEO, Bucyrus International:
“This is a tough domestic business environment. If you’re going to do it, make sure it either is filling a void left by a departing business; creating a new niche where demand can be clearly defined; or has something to do with where the real growth is happening, i.e., the developing and emerging international economies.”
Steve Roell, CEO, Johnson Controls:
“Understand your markets and how susceptible they are to economic volatility. Make sure you are capitalized to withstand the unexpected and that you’ve considered various contingency plans.
In terms of opportunities, the long viability of a business is tied to innovation that truly provides a unique value to your customer. If you have that idea and a sound business plan, this isn’t a bad time to access capital at reasonable rates.
Finally, look for opportunities to partner with another firm that gives you better market access to distribution, a customer base, sales force etc.”
Mark Furlong, President/CEO, M&I Corporation:
“A level of investor interest that will offer an opportunity to obtain what seems at that moment like excess capital, a business plan that will attract some extent of financing, a portion which should be longer-term in nature, and the experience and wisdom to execute your plan as intended, calling upon the expertise of trusted advisors, when necessary.”
David Raysich, Partner, Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP:
“Starting a business today is a distinct advantage over starting a business in an economic boom. Every existing business is operating with a new normal. Your new business will be operating with the new normal but without all the easy spending baggage.”