People of Georgian: Professor loves business like fans love Leafs, Raptors

What’s your story?

The Georgian community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives —and we’re sharing them as part of an ongoing series.

People of Georgian: Meet Mark Fletcher

My son, Blake, and I love business the way a lot of people love the Raptors or the Leafs.

We get really intrigued and excited about things that are happening in business.

Two people dressed in black pants and collared shirts stand next to each other, arms over each other's shoulders, in front of a large colourful painting of a nature landscape.

For that reason and a few others, we wanted to build a business together, but it had to be something that’s really fun, that we’re connected to, and about more than just making money.

As time went on, he came up with the idea – an art gallery.

I’m an art addict. I have a serious addiction of original art, and I’ve been buying art for over 25 years.

I’ve worked with artists as a community volunteer at the Orillia Museum of Art and History. I was also chair of the board there for four years.

I’m an art addict. I have a serious addiction of original art, and I’ve been buying art for over 25 years.
Mark Fletcher

We have a creative retreat out at our farm every fall, which we’ve done for 12 or 13 years.

My son and I love art and we love artists, and we both have extensive business backgrounds.

When he suggested we open an art gallery, I thought, “It’s a tough business but we’ll figure it out. Let’s do it!” That’s how it started.

I love art because of the energy, joy and beauty that it brings. Also the creativity.

When I teach at Georgian, there’s a real focus on creativity and innovation, and art is all about creativity and the creative process.

‘Beyond our wildest expectations’

The gallery has been successful beyond our wildest expectations.

We have 30 great artists from across the province – not just local artists, but we do have some of those.

And we have a theme, which is Ontario’s natural beauty. The artists we have selected, we think, are the very best artists in Ontario that do that.

We’ve become a regional gallery for cottage country, we just added to our roster of artists, and we have a lot of repeat customers already. It’s been a lot of fun.

A group of people stand together in a classroom against a chalkboard and pose for a photo. Two instructors are sitting or lying down on tables in front.

Mark teaches business while running a business

The courses I teach at Georgian are primarily in entrepreneurship. In most of those courses, we focus on starting a business and how to grow a business.

To be doing it right now allows me to share some of the experiences and challenges and rewards with students.

It’s important to have courage and relevant actual experience as part of the learning experience for students.

I love teaching; I just think it’s such an important and rewarding career. It’s my calling, and Georgian is the right place for me.

Mark Fletcher, professor in Georgian’s Business and Management programs and co-owner of Cloud Gallery in Orillia.

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