In January of 1983 I moved to Atlanta and began a journey with someone who would become a lifelong friend, band mate, and ultimately successful business partner. Twenty-five years later, I would follow him to the great state of Utah, home to Summit County, where he had established permanent residence several years before. Along the way he also became a trusted adviser, teaching me about everything from new devices called “home computers” to the true value of serving others — not just people who had something to give in return, but anyone who needed a hand with literally anything. His name is Ari Ioannides and he’s running for Summit County Council. I have a personal saying about Ari: “The only thing he’s not really good at is failing.”Ari’s community-centered accomplishments are both plentiful and meaningful, with roots that go back to childhood. As a young student in Atlanta public schools, he struggled with academics only to learn from his inner-city teacher that there was something called “dyslexia” standing in his way. A few short years later, a determined young man was one of the better computer programmers in the Southeast — that cycle giving birth to his desire to give back, beginning with early education. Years later, that led to things like serving on the board of the Park City Education Foundation (helping to improve processes and significantly increase its annual fundraising) and founding nationally acclaimed BootUp PD, which has greatly enhanced the early education of over 900,000 K-5 underserved students thus far.Outside of education, I’ve watched Ari help accelerate the mission and success of our local recycling center, serve on the North Summit Fire District Control Board, turn around a struggling Park City Institute, and serve as a trustee on the Intermountain Health Wasatch Back Community Board. Throughout it all, Ari would facilitate material contributions — the kind that matter — to permanently conserving our natural resources here in Summit County, advocating for solar and open space land, in particular.The story, however, wouldn’t be complete without briefly touching on his family life, though much of that is personal and would be out of place here. Just let me say that the nucleus of Ari’s sincerity and giving mindset always began at home and still does.I’m delighted that he’s running for Summit County Council. His strategic leadership and governance skills will make a difference here beginning on day one. I respectfully hope readers consider casting their votes in his direction. Summit County will be all the better for it for years to come.Michael E. HanahanPark CityThe post A give-back mindset appeared first on Park Record.