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.
"The Madd Poets Society was inspired by a series of dreams and a chance meeting with famed poet Nikki Giovanni at an Author Author's series," David explains. A life long resident of Toledo, Ohio, David resides with his loving wife and four children. He is an ordained minister, noted lecturer and devoted youth advocate, mentoring over 60 young adults within the last decade.
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.
Madd Poets Society, Inc. Board of Directors
David Bush founded the Madd Poets Society,
a non-profit organization in December 1999.
We want to thank the Stranahan Supporting Organization of the Toledo Community Foundation, Inc. for awarding us a grant to create this website.
| 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. |  | |
 | 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. | |
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. |  | |
 | Larome Myrick Larome Myrick is a Parole Officer for Adult Parole Authority. Larome has worked with the State of Ohio for over 8 years in a variety of different positions. He has his undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo, a graduate degree from Lourdes College and starts his doctorate program at BGSU in the fall. Larome believes in the importance of education; thus, he pushes education upon all he meets- both old and young. Larome is known for saying that "Success is journey, not a destination." | |
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. |  | |
 | Jeffrey Perry Jeff is an eLearning Programming Specialist for the eLearning and Academic Support division at the University of Toledo. Jeff has a BBA in Information Technology and an MBA in Organizational Management from Tiffin University. | |
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. |  | |
 | 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. | |
Bobby Shepard Bobby Shepherd is a Program Specialist with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) where he is part of team which trains and monitors 56 Family Liaisons active in 109 schools on the proper protocol regarding Title I Funding within the CMSD. Bobby is also responsible for training the Family Liaisons in relationship management with parents and school officials. Bobby responsibilities also include training of over 500 members of the Student Parent Organization (SPO), helping to prepare those parents to be more involved within the schools. Bobby coordinates CMSD events which create opportunities for public awareness revealing the goals of the CMSD administration. Bobby earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. Bobby is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; Inc. and serves as Advisor to 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 young 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 of five years and their 13 year old daughter and occasionally finds time to enjoy a round of golf. |  |
