Door County’s home for storytellers has a new Executive Director. Write On, Door County has selected Al DeGenova to lead the organization in the next phase of its evolution.

DeGenova will work with Write On’s founding and now artistic director, Jerod Santek, to continue growing the organization’s programs, outreach and reputation as a home for readers and writers on its 59-acre campus.

DeGenova is a writer, poet, teacher and marketing professional from the Chicago area. He has written four books, founded After Hours Press, and is co-editor of After Hours magazine, a journal of Chicago Writing and art. He has taught several workshops for Write On, Door County and teaches an annual summer writing class (originally the Norbert Blei Writing Workshop) at The Clearing Folk School; he has also taught in the MBA program at Concordia University in River Forest, IL.

This is all work he has done in parallel to a 30-year-career as a marketing executive managing people, strategic planning, and budgets.

“Al brings a unique combination to Write On,” said Write On board president Myles Dannhausen Jr. “First, he is passionate about storytelling and our mission to inspire and engage readers and writers at all ages and all stages, but he also has a deep background in marketing where he managed large teams, budgets and strategy development.”

“As a writer in the Door County community I’ve had many interactions with Write On since its inception. I am excited and anxious to now become a part of the great work that Write On is doing,” said DeGenova. “I’m grateful to the board for putting their confidence in me to help shape future growth and lead the organization to its next level of excellence.”

Located in Juddville, Write On is home to a writer’s residence, the Writing Center, Norb Blei’s writing coop, and a network of trails where visitors can find solitude and inspiration.