Aaron Michel

“In my lifetime of non-profit service I have worked with many board members. In each of my capacities as an Executive, I have had to recruit board members, work in committee settings with members of the board, and interface with board committees on many projects. Aaron is a Board Member at Art in Action where I serve as Executive Director. Aaron is truly a one of a kind Unicorn in this space, and he fits the profile of an individual that every board, public or private, needs. Aaron has passion: He is an active board member who brings 100 percent of himself to the organization. He believes in the mission and has identified his strengths and interests that align with the needs of Art in Action. In addition to passion, he exhibits grit to ensure the execution of the mission. He is a great mentor: Beginning with my first meeting with Aaron, he asked questions and inspired me to think of challenges and solutions. Often, he knew the correct answers to some difficult questions, but he made certain I reached a solution on my own first prior to giving direction. He taught me to make decisions efficiently by thoughtfully processing all aspects and points of view, and to pay attention to details I may have missed. Aaron is a visionary and a leader: Aaron knows the next best thing before it becomes great. He has brilliant instincts and can assess big ideas and see broader impact of decisions. At Art in Action, his involvement in our Products and Services committee was key to building large partnerships with corporate funders and schools. Aaron guided the development of the Art in STEAM lessons that are leapfrogging the educational industry by leading with Art to teach Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Aaron isn’t afraid to speak up in a board setting, guide the conversation towards solution and systemic change, and ensure that the organization is focused on making big impact. He is a connector: The relationships Aaron has established for Art in Action has led the organization to broaden our opportunities for sales, marketing, and fundraising. It is not only that Aaron provides a connection, but that he fosters a warm hand-off and establishes trust. I have never made an ask for a connection at a large company from Aaron where he did not either know the right person or find the right person immediately. Aaron is also a great steward of donors and funders. He knows how to make the right asks and from whom. Aaron follows-up: Aaron’s ability to do before being asked is unparalleled. He has always met his board obligations on time, fulfilled his promised commitments, and followed through on projects. He is very attentive and efficient. He maintains a quick pace of response to any questions or requests. He is knowledgeable: Aaron doesn’t just provide opinions. He asks questions, curates research, finds experts in the field, and then he forms a conclusion. He does this at a very rapid pace. As a result, he is incredibly intelligent. In addition,”

“I got to know Aaron during an intensive due diligence process in the lead up to acquiring his company PathSource. Following the acquisition he became AcademixDirect’s Executive Vice President and worked closely with me on a range of challenges. Here are a few of the things I really liked about Aaron's leadership style after having the opportunity to see him through the lens of those interactions. First, he was extremely smart and innovative. Aaron could quickly grasp the crux of a situation and frequently came up with new ways to tackle difficult challenges.. Second, from a BD and comms standpoint, Aaron could excel anywhere. Whether in a board meeting, giving a speech or working hand in hand with a major partner, Aaron consistently exceeded expectations. Third, in a senior executive role, minor and major fires inevitably arise. Aaron, having faced similar fires as CEO of PathSource, was always a steady hand to work with when they occurred. Perhaps more importantly, he cared about the right things and saw the big picture. He came in motivated every day to get someone who's economically disadvantaged into the best possible college at the lowest possible price and ultimately into the right career. To put it differently, he could see both the forest and the trees. That's someone you want on your leadership team. ”