Established in 1976, the Akron Roundtable is a community forum that inspires and promotes dialog by presenting speakers who inform and educate listeners on diverse topics of importance to the region, the nation and the world. To date, more than 400 major corporate executives, writers, government officials, artists and civic leaders from around the country have shared their ideas with the region.

Each Akron Roundtable event will be recorded by media studies students working for the Z-TV television station, with guidance from PBS Western Reserve and Ideastream producers, offering a valuable, hands-on learning experience for the students. 

All AKRON ROUNDTABLE episodes are available to stream on-demand at PBSWesternReserve.org or the PBS App following their broadcast premiere.

Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 PM 

Icon in the Sky: 100 Years of the Goodyear Blimp

Michael Dougherty, Chief Pilot, Airship Operations, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Katy Robinson, Social Media Creative Services Manager, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Learn about the history of the Goodyear blimp straight from its Chief Pilot, Michael Dougherty, and ICON IN THE SKY: 100 YEARS OF THE GOODYEAR BLIMP documentary director Katy Robinson in a moderated conversation with Akron Roundtable Board Member Barry Dunway.

Stream ICON IN THE SKY: 100 YEARS OF THE GOODYEAR BLIMP on PBS Western Reserve.

Michael “Doc” Dougherty is the Chief Pilot of Airship Operations for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. A graduate of Kent State University and The University of Akron, Doc has spent nearly 20 years with the Goodyear Blimp program. He is a certified pilot with multiple ratings, including Lighter-than-Air, and previously served as a flight instructor at Kent State University and as a Captain for ExpressJet Airlines. In his current role, he oversees airship flight operations and leads the team of pilots responsible for flying one of the world’s most iconic aircraft.

Katy Robinson is the Manager of Social Media Creative Services for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and director of the Icon in the Sky: 100 Years of the Goodyear Blimp documentary. A graduate of Kent State University, Katy has extensive experience in video production across both broadcast news and corporate environments. In her current role, she leads Goodyear's social media creative team, developing content that showcases the company's products, innovations, and the iconic Goodyear Blimp to audiences around the world.