NJP (Nice Jewish Person) Alex Scharg
Each month, The Well highlights an amazing (and eligible!) individual.
This month, we have a conversation with NJP Alex Scharg!
TW: How did you decide to make your adult life in Metro Detroit?
AS: Opportunity is what kept me here! A few months before graduating, I reconnected with an old friend — through an entrepreneurship association — who told me about all of the great things happening in Detroit and why it was the best place to build a business. I visited his space a few times downtown and I liked everything about it. Combine that with my local connections in the area, plus a part-time freelance gig for Fox Sports Detroit, and I was hooked.
TW: Rumor has it you just started a business locally with a good friend - tell us about it!
AS: The rumor is true! My friend and I collaborated on a lot of different media projects together in college, and we finally had the opportunity to take our passion full-time together. Our company, Visioned Media (http://www.visionedmedia.com/), is a video marketing company where we make engaging video content for businesses and organizations to be used for marketing purposes. We’ve been full-time together now for about 3 months and we are excited to continue our outreach and letting community members know how we can help grow a business or organization!
TW: You were recently named Kadima's Volunteer of the Year! What about their work inspired you to get involved, and what has been the most rewarding part about being a volunteer there?
AS: I’ve always been big on giving back and I was looking to get involved as a volunteer in Metro Detroit. While out for dinner with a friend one evening, I met a woman who gave me her Kadima business card and we discussed how the organization supports members of our community. I thought about my friends who cope with mental illness and friends I’ve lost to suicide, and I knew this was exactly what I was looking for to make a difference. There’s more to the story here: http://www.kadimacenter.org/blog/a-sports-connection
TW: What are your 3 favorite leisure activities?
AS: Traveling, Event-going, and Board/Card games. I love playing Risk and Monopoly, and admittedly enjoy Poker too! My friends and I played all the time together and it stimulated great conversation and helped us bond. When it comes to traveling, I loved going to Israel and want to travel around the world even more!
TW: Where would you most like to travel to that you haven't visited?
AS: I’ve always wanted to visit Europe and learn more about the culture there across various countries.
TW: If you had to pick a favorite sport / team to watch, which would it be and why?
AS: The Michigan State Spartans, as it is my alma mater… Go Green! I was fortunate to cover a lot of the sports teams as a media member, so I was able to cover the Rose Bowl, Final Four, and numerous Big Ten championships and tournaments for football and basketball. The best memory was the Rose Bowl, as I spent almost a week out in Pasadena and made an award-winning documentary about the Rose Bowl experience for Spartan fans.
TW: What's your favorite Jewish holiday and why?
AS: Rosh Hashanah — there’s something special about the sweetness of apples and honey while having the opportunity to start fresh each year!
TW: Who is the coolest Jew?
AS: Albert Einstein — he made so many contributions to our understanding of the world (and he had awesome hair)!
TW: If you could add an 11th commandment what would it be?
AS: Thou shalt always love one another as brothers and sisters regardless of differences.
TW: How about a fun fact?
AS: I’m currently 6 feet tall, but was 5’4 up until the age of 16. At the end of high school, I grew about 7 inches in one year!
TW: Any other secret talents to know about?
AS: I started taking piano lessons at age 4 and still love to play today!
TW: Finish the sentence: When I go to The Well…
I enjoy the discussions and conversations about current events, ethics, and issues while meeting other great people in the Metro Detroit community!
