Interviewee:
Peter O’Leary
In your own words, tell us about your business, organization, or initiative.
My business is focused on photography and stained glass and working with agate. Working with agate allows me to create natural, organic creations. Every piece is a one-of-a-kind creation. No two pieces of agate are the same – thus making every creation unique. Working with glass allows me flexibility to create items that help to brighten up a home – no matter how big or small.
Tell us a bit about you and why you do what you do. Share your passions for your business, organization, or initiative.
I’m a local photographer, living in Winthrop MA. I’ve got a passion for aviation, so you’ll see lots of ‘planespotting’ photographs in my collection. Other interests are travel / landscapes. Cityscapes, astro-photography, floral, wildlife, and macro photography to name a few. Travelling allows me to expand my horizons and capture photographs from different locations around the world. Depending on where I travel, I’ll have an extra carryon full of camera equipment and two suitcases – one for day-to-day life and the other with tripods and other equipment too big for carryon. My interest in geology as a child and teen still stirs inside me. Several years ago, I got into macro photography and working with agate is a perfect fit. Using light and lenses to capture the beauty of mother nature’s creations is exciting. I took that concept and started making art with agate. I was asked if I made suncatchers with glass – I had not, but it was a natural destination. I’ve become obsessed with working with glass.
What is the last thing you read, watched, or listened to that had an impact on you?
Crip Camp. My full-time job is the Director of IT for NTI, a non-profit that works to help find work-at-home for the disabled. I recently saw the movie Crip Camp. It is an amazing movie that shows the people that worked so hard to get the ADA in place. Watching the challenges that they faced (in the 1970’s and 80’s) both physically and socially is amazing. It is a good reminder of the struggles that disabled individuals went through to get to where we are in 2025 – but we still have a way to go, to make things more equal and accessible.
What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you or your business?
I’ve been working with the same organization since 1997. It is hard to find people who have worked at one place for nearly 30 years.
What is Creative Collective?
Creative Collective is a group of economic development strategists, small business supporters, activation specialists, and believers in the importance of the creative workforce. We foster growth, sustainability, and scalability for small businesses, creative thinkers, organizations, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Learn more and join Creative Collective at www.creativecollectivema.com/join
