Meet the Director
David Bush is the founder and the Executive Director of the Madd Poets Society, Inc., a renowned literary arts organization for inspiring poets. As a writer his works spans over 23 years, beginning as a rap artist and fully investing himself as a poet in 1992. He began his professional career as a performing artist in 2000, inspiring and mentoring countless artists with his edgy style he describes as contemporary jazz meets rap.

David Bush is the President and Founder of Creative Solutions Consulting which designs program modules, workshops, and lectures including the widely popular Hiphopology workshop. He is currently in the midst of completing three books to be released soon.

His credits include first place, For Colored Girl's Repertory Theater Poetry Contest. At the 1999 Northwest Ohio Slam Poetry competition, Mr. Bush won first place. He and his poetry team won fifth place at the About Time National Black Poetry Competition. In 2004, the Toledo Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) named Mr. Bush "Poet in Residence." He is a 13-year employee of TLCPL, where he has taught a series on poetry and creative self-expression.

David Bush founded the Madd Poets Society,
a non-profit organization in December 1999.

Madd Poets Society, Inc. Board of Directors
Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe
Dr. Bledsoe received his Bachelor's of Arts Degree and his Master's of Education degree from Mississippi State University. Additionally, he graduated from the University of Georgia with a Ph.D. in Counseling and Student Affairs Administration and was chosen as the "Outstanding Doctoral Student" in the the State of Georgia and was most recently recognized as the "Outstanding Doctoral Alumnus" by the University of Georgia. Dr. Bledsoe is the founder of the Student African American Brotherhood Oganization (SAAB), which is a national organization established to enhance the experiences of and instill a "spirit of care" in African American males in high schools, colleges and universitites around the country. He is a contributing author of recently released book "African American Men in College", Jossey-Bass Publisher. Recently, Dr. Bledsoe was chosen as one of the most outstanding social innovators in the world by the Ashoka International Organization. He is a very spiritual and thought-provoking lecturer.

Pat Lora
Pat Lora is Manager of Technical Services for the Toledo Lucas County Public Library system. She holds a Master in Library Science from Kent State University and a Masters in English from the University of Toledo. Lora is a long time resident of Toledo with summer roots in the Traverse City, Michigan area where she enjoys sailing and hiking. As a lifelong librarian she has a passion for books, poetry, and storytelling. Lora is a member of the Frogtown Storytellers Guild.



Dr. Judythe Patberg
Dr. Patberg is a reading specialist at Read for Literacy and a Literacy Specialist Consultant for the Ohio Department of Education. She received a doctorate in education from the University of Minnesota in 1974 and retired from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at The University of Toledo in 2004. In her spare time, Dr. Patberg writes memoirs.



Rhonda Sewell
Rhonda Sewell is Media Relations Coordinator for the Toledo-Lucas County Library system. She holds a BA in Journalism from Michigan State University, and attended the City University of London in England, wqher she studied graduate-level courses in International Journalism. Sewell is a longtime resident of Toledo, but lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan during her high school years. She worked 18 years as a journalist at The Blade newspaper in Toledo before joining the Library. Her passions include genealogy, international travel (she has traveled to China, England, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium), hosting a  monthly poetry series, and being the proud mom of 7 year old twin daughters. In addition to her board duties for the Madd Poets, Sewell sits on the board of directors of the American Heart Association and The Collegian, the University of Toledo's independent student-run newspaper.


Audrey L. Johnson
Audrey L. Johnson is Community Development Specialist for the Maumee Valley Girl Scout Council. She holds a BS in Visual Communication technology with an emphasis in photography from Bowling Green State University. Johnson has worked in the Toledo Community with various organizations such as the Housing Authority, Boys and Girls Club and the Youth Opportunity Program (YMCA). She has a wonderful niche of showing youth a well-rounded cultural experience. As an artist herself, Johnson enjoys all areas of the arts and the influence it has on shaping the minds of our youth.

Edward Pendleton
Ed Pendleton is a Parole Services Supervisor for Adult Parole Authority and a student in the Master of Organizational Leadership program at Lourdes College. He believes strongly that each of us had someone in our lives who has impacted us in some way, whether it was our parents, a teacher, a pastor, or someone we've come into contact with over the years. Pendleton believes that it is inherent that we nurture and guide the youth of today much as we were guided when we were children.

Cleo ( Shawn) McNeal
Cleo is an Eligibility Specialist for the Lucas County Department of Jobs and Family Services, where she determines if Lucas County families are eligible for cash, food and medical assistance. She is also a Notary Public for the State of Ohio. Cleo holds a Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree and enjoys working with troubled youth. She enjoys mentoring young adults and volunteering time towards programs that encourage their development.

Bobby Shepard
Bobby is a Program Associate for the Key Foundation (KeyBank) where he is part of a team which processes charitable contributions to organizations that meet the strategic goals of the Foundation. Bobby is currently pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and serves as Advisor of the Sigma Beta Club, an auxiliary group of the fraternity that is currently established at Benedictine High School in Cleveland. One of the fraternity's goals is to serve as mentors to the youny men, assisting with the transition into high school, helping to adapt to life's challenges, and preparing the young men for college. Bobby enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter and occassionally finds time to enjoy a round of golf.

Janice Sankowski
Janice is the Director of Information Technology at The SeaGate Convention Centre and is a Licensed Massage Therapist. She holds a BA in Philosophy from the Univerisity of Toledo. Janis has worked in the Toledo Community with various organizations such as Organized Neighbors Yielding Excellence CDC, Toledo Olde Towne CDC, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Toledo School for the Arts, Sunshine Inc. and her church. Janis is the proud parent of Madd Poets Society, Claire Frisk. If she had free time, Janis would travel and curl up to a good book.