Adventures In Learning Instructors

Joe Spencer is a long time AIL member.   In addition to interests in poetry, tennis, sailing and photography, he’s a reader of technology and current events.  He’s an NC State graduate, did post graduate work at USC and UVA and worked as an engineer for Alcoa, Dupont, York TEC, Midrex, and Catalytic as well as a consultant for various smaller companies. 

Michael Friedman joined Allstate in January of 2016 as a Personal Financial Representative. He graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and holds his LUTCF designation and Series 7, 63, 65 & 26. As a Personal Financial Representative, Michael has in-depth knowledge in investing for the future utilizing tools such as life insurance, annuities, IRA’s, Mutual Funds as well as many other products to find the right balance of coverage for his client’s needs. 
When not at work, Michael enjoys spending time with his three grandchildren, photography, traveling, walking, and reading.

Barbara Kidd Lawing (of Huntersville, NC) has worked with writers since 1990s when she taught Creative Writing for CPCC. She has led countless numbers of writing groups in private homes, coffee shops, day camps, and Wildacres Retreat Center. She now leads groups of writers virtually via Zoom.  Her early poems are in a book called 117 Poems, a second collection soon to come, and Hazeline, a historical novel set in Mecklenburg County in 1937 is currently with a publishing house and soon available.  

Bill Logan is a retired physician with interests in most fields of Science, particularly Natural History. He graduated from Davidson College and Duke Medical schools and completed his residency in Dermatology at the Mayo Clinic. He earned a Master’s Degree in medical research before deciding on private practice in North Carolina, with no regrets about leaving Minnesota winters. He served as Chairman of the Nalle Clinic Dermatology Department in Charlotte for 35 years, serving also as consulting physician for CMC hospital where he originated the Outpatient Dermatology Clinic for Indigent Patients. He also served as Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Dermatology for UNC, Chapel Hill, for 24 years and authored 9 articles for the medical literature. He has played a role in the Botany program at UNCC working with Dr. Mellichamp and Dr. “Heck” and on the Board of Advisors for the Botanical Gardens and chairing committees of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society. He served as Chairman of Mecklenburg County’s Treasure Tree Program for 9 years. He also has been a member of the Charlotte Gem and Mineral Club having lectured on occasion and competed in Mineral Displays and Lapidary competitions. After retirement, he was sole proprietor of Spectrum Minerals, participating in numerous East Coast Mineral shows for 12 years. He has expertise in the mineral, Rhodochrosite, and published the definitive book on Rhodochrosite collecting and display.