Arts Now and Summit DD

Nicole Mullet

Nicole serves as the Executive Director of ArtsNow, an organization that helps build and strengthen a thriving Summit County arts and culture scene to add economic vitality and social vibrancy to our region. In this role, she collaborates with local leaders and organizations to advocate for the arts and culture sector, connects local talent to resources, and leads a team that promotes the diverse catalog of arts and culture offerings across multiple platforms to Summit County residents.

In 2023, Nicole was invited to serve on the Support Summit DD Levy Advisory Committee, demonstrating her commitment to furthering this vital cause. The board of trustees for The University of Akron confirmed President Gary Miller’s appointment of Nicole to a UA seat on the board of the Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio, Inc. (NETO) in February of 2020. In addition, Nicole serves on the board of United Disability Services (UDS) and was elected to serve a second term with the Private Sector Network Council of Americans for the Arts representing Summit County and Ohio.

Nicole received the Metamorphosis Award for Transformational Leadership from the Akron Zoo in 2024 and the Spotlight Award from Collide: Cuyahoga Falls in 2023. In 2020, Nicole received the Glass Half Full award from the GAR Foundation and in August of 2019, she was selected by Crain’s Cleveland Business as a Notable Women in Nonprofit.

Nicole is a graduate of Leadership Akron Class 34 and is a proud alumna of Torchbearers, where she served as member, committee chair, and board member from 2013 to 2017 and as president in 2016.

Drew Williams

Drew Williams has dedicated 20 years to the disability services field, beginning his career as a Direct Support Professional for children diagnosed with autism. His journey led him into residential case management and eventually to the Summit County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Summit DD) following graduate school. At Summit DD, Drew serves as the Assistant Superintendent, collaborating with a talented team to work with service providers and local organizations, promoting accessibility and supporting over 5,000 individuals connected to the organization. Drew resides in Akron with his wife and two children.