Harvey Chiles has lived a varied, interesting and inspired life. Born in a small town in Ohio, his graduating class had 53 people. His goal from as early as he could remember was to get out of town.  And that he did! With more jobs than a temp service and more degrees than a thermometer, he leads an active life as an educator, entrepreneur, and musician.  His first job was shining shoes in his hometown barbershop when he was in the 3rd grade.  Progressing to taxi cab dispatcher, he became a short order cook, roofed houses (briefly), and delivered clothes for a local dry cleaner.  Later in life, he owned his own laundromat and dry cleaning businesses called VIP Cleaners.

Always a goal setter, Harvey graduated from high school with a concrete, ten-year plan.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in music in three years. He taught in rural America for three years and returned for his graduate degree at Bowling Green State University College of Musical Arts.  After teaching four more years at Poland Seminary High School, he went to study at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana.  That is where his ten-year plan unraveled! He loved Bloomington and the vocal and choral studies, but hated the academic work at the doctoral level.  His leave of absence from public school teaching ended with a sudden job loss!. A tax levy had failed in Ohio, and he was unemployed and broke.  What Now?

Harvey regrouped, got an elementary teaching job in West Lafayette, Indiana, and conducted the Purdue University Show Choir.  Back on track.But was it the right track?  

What next? A sudden and surprising shift into school administration at the encouragement of his mentor, Dr. Don Yeoman.  He moved up the ranks to Dean of Boys, Assistant principal and then three stints as a high school principal.  He also worked as the headmaster of the Noblesse International School in Angeles City, Philippines.  As that ended he asked that first  two questions again: What now?  What next?

He taught at the university level, started a few businesses, including a cleaning company called Major Domo.  But he hit a creative wall.  He finally earned his doctoral degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University ten years after his self-imposed deadline. Persistent if nothing else!

And it left him with one final question:  What if?    And when you contract him as a speaker and a coach, you will find out the rest of the story!

Harvey Chiles is a visionary. A futurist who believes that the only way forward in education and life is through innovation and experimentation.

You can book a consultation with him on this website at your convenience.