Flint native Howard Bragman is one of the most recognized PR professionals in America. He has taken his 30+ years of agency experience and become the “go-to” guy on television to explain celebrity misbehavior, corporate crisis and the role of “spin” in our everyday lives. He is a frequent contributor and news consultant on ABC programs such as Good Morning America, and he offers expert commentary regularly on CNN and MSNBC.

Now CMU’s 14th president, Dr. George Ross has enjoyed a long and successful career in education. He took a few moments from his busy schedule to answer questions about his Flint roots, his life, and his hopes for the city’s future.

In the Flint area, Ghassan Saab is well known for his success as co-owner and CEO of Sorensen Gross Construction Services. Born and raised in Lebanon, he graduated from the National College of Choueifat and from the American University of Beirut with a degree in civil engineering. “I grew up in a very close family,” he says, “with loving parents, aunts and uncles, who all had a commitment to higher education and serving the community. I would wish my childhood on everybody.” At that time, Ghassan says Lebanon was referred to as the “Switzerland of the Middle East,” long before its civil war and the ongoing strife. After he completed his studies, Ghassan came to Flint to work for Sorensen Gross. “I had worked here during the previous summer, so I already had the job,” he says. “And I have never had another.”

Numbers. Good people. Hard work. School. These are a few of Dan Kutchey’s favorite things. Earning his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting with honors from the University of Michigan-Flint this spring included all of those favorite things, culminating in the accomplishment of a dream that, not so long ago, seemed only a fleeting hope.

Balancing his work between California and New York City these days, Eric Ogden never lost his Midwestern roots. Born and raised in Flint and a 1990 graduate of Flint Central High School, Eric’s career after graduating from the University of Michigan quickly evolved into a combination of photographer, film director and artist. His professional portfolio includes stunning portraits of top celebrities and movie stars, emotion-provoking landscapes and figures, and photographs in ads for several major news and sports networks and magazines. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Esquire, The Wall Street Journal Magazine, Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Glamour, The Hollywood Reporter and many others. He’s currently putting the final touches on a visual memoir of Flint, which he hopes to have published. My City Magazine spent some time talking with Eric about his success and the impact that Flint had on him as he pursued his passion for the visual arts and found his voice as a photographer.

I want to tell the people of Flint: You can be great. You do not need anyone’s permission to be great. You don’t need anyone’s endorsement to be excellent.

MCM: How did growing up in Flint shape your worldview and fuel your aspirations?