Tom Hurst’s Full Testimonial

Maturity, Responsibility, Social Skills & Natural Ability to Lead

I have known Arthur since he was an affable and energetic seventh grade student. I still remember meeting him at a drum clinic/master class I was contributing instruction to. Even then I was struck by how bright, charming and genuine he was. You could sense honest enthusiasm for life’s endeavors and boundless energy with which to undertake them. I made it my mission to “recruit” him to our high school band program and was glad I did as he quickly became one of our best leaders of our percussion performance ensembles. Everyone gravitated to Arthur. His peers, academic teachers, the band directors and our instructional staff. Simply put, you knew that he was always up to the competent completion and mastery of any task put before him.

Creativity, Empathy & Entrepreneurship for a New Generation

Some years after Arthur became my student he joined a fledgling independent musical ensemble that a colleague of mine and I had partnered to undertake in Orlando, Florida: Infinity Percussion. As a performing member of of Infinity, Arthur continued to be a shining example of everything that one would encourage a performer to be: Prepared, Enthusiastic for a Challenge, Malleable in adapting to the inevitable alterations required of any creative endeavor (a hallmark that would foreshadow his own entrepreneurial efforts to come later in his professional life) and a Leader by example who while talented and capable in his own right, had great empathy for those who could use a helping hand. It was this last trait that always impressed me about Arthur: His compassion and genuine consideration of the needs of others. It is a cornerstone of who he is as an adult in every facet of his life as well. I know those of us who are fortunate enough to call him our friend do so knowing that he is the ultimate teammate in life. One who is loyal and dedicated yet understanding and encouraging where we may fall short of expectations.

Marketing Savvy, Social Media Vanguard, Graphic Design & Branding

Arthur’s understanding and awareness of cultural trends, connection and understanding with the millennial generation and ability to get the best out of others through patient stewardship has served him, and our organization (Infinity) well. He became our Associate Director of the ensemble in 2011. Almost immediately we saw marked positive change in our membership recruitment numbers and general makeup diversity attracting more students of all backgrounds and ability levels. In affecting this enhanced demand for participation Arthur spearheaded early embracement (even as a member prior to his leadership/teaching roles) of Facebook’s social media promotional capabilities. He continued this awareness throughout his tenure as director always making certain to position our organization’s media outreach on the most effective platforms (Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram) long before they were in vogue to the average consumer. Coupling this promotional ability with an expert eye for Graphic Design Arthur created the primary logos for Infinity Percussion and is responsible for the entire “look” and visual branding of any/all merchandise (a division of our organization that he and I started together with our own funds and his intellectual property and sweat equity). All of these efforts led to unprecedented growth directly attributable to Arthur: Infinity now fields three separate ensembles annually with a total of over one-hundred fifty performers from ages fifteen to twenty-three hailing from as far afield as Japan. Without a doubt, our organization is one of the elite few in the pageantry arts with such broad membership reach and there is simply no question that the catalyst for such continued recruiting success is the foundation and template created by Arthur Goodman.

Personal Sentiments

Through our almost twenty years of friendship, mentorship (flowing both ways), I can in complete confidence say that I’ve had few individuals come into my life that we’re more impactful as friends, students or colleagues. As I’ve mentioned, Arthur is loyal, friendly and fair, but he’s also tenacious and tough when the situation calls for it. He’s nobody’s “Yes Man” either. If he believes in a vision or endeavor he is steadfast in his commitment to see it through and will respectfully disagree if he believes the integrity of his vision is meaning undermined. As a fellow entrepreneur I greatly admire this fortitude and more than once have altered my view on a given project, topic or issue at hand as a direct result of Arthur’s ability to show me the folly of my own knee-jerk reaction. I may be the older of the two of ya and the one who began our relationship as the teacher, but I feel at this juncture in our respective lives’ paths’ it is I who have learned far more from him.

Grateful to call this talented, kind-hearted man my friend and brother for life.