Roger’s Story
I fell in love with creativity in 1977 when I was studying music at the University of Northern Colorado. To make money for college, I taught guitar lessons.
When I taught beginner students, I found they quickly got bored with the traditional way of learning guitar. I began to work with a young professor who helped me find books and articles about creativity to help students. As I read, two names kept appearing: Dr. Sidney J. Parnes and Dr. Ruth Noller. I discovered that Drs. Parnes and Noller were teaching in Buffalo, NY at a place called the Interdisciplinary Center for Creative Studies at Buffalo State College.
I called the Creative Studies department. The woman on the phone said, “Well, Dr. Parnes is here. Would you like to talk to him?” I was shocked. To talk to a real live author!
In June of 1977, I flew from Denver, Colorado to Buffalo, New York to attend the 24th Annual Creative Problem Solving Institute, a yearly conference.
By the close of the week, I knew what I wanted to do with my life.
After finishing my undergraduate degree at UNC, I earned my Masters in Creativity Studies from Buffalo State in 1979, and began consulting. In 1984 I was honored to join the full time faculty of the Buffalo State Creative Studies department and later earned my doctorate in Organizational Communication. Over the next several decades, I taught thousands of students while consulting through Innovation Resources, the company I founded in 1994.
I love to see the light bulbs go off. When students realize that they are indeed creative and they can accomplish the goals, dreams, and aspirations they have for their lives.
Today, in addition to my corporate consulting and training work, I continue to teach classes at Buffalo State University.
My favorite course to teach is Principles in Creative Behavior. This is the foundational class—101. It was the first creative studies class that I took back in 1977. This is the one that hooked me – although it has changed a great deal since I was the student!
People ask me why, as the Senior Faculty Member of the department, I teach the introductory class.
I love to see the light bulbs go off when students realize that they are indeed creative and they can accomplish the goals, dreams, and aspirations they have for their lives.
The same is true in my work with clients, as they discover their potential and develop solutions for their biggest problems.
And in the world of business, my work and experience delivers bottom-line results.
It has been almost 45 years since those fateful guitar lessons… I still have that passion for applying creativity to create innovation. I would be honored to share my passion with you and your organization.