Mission CTRL

In this week’s episode of MissionCTRL, Ramon and the PD Flight crew are joined by the inspiring Vicar Centeno, founder of Viccen (pronounced Vixen as in “Fox”) Bookkeeping. Vicar’s journey into bookkeeping began in high school, where an early internship sparked her passion for managing finances. With the support of her father—a well-known pastor and community leader—she gained experience working for a local nonprofit, a role that deepened her skills and commitment to her craft.  In this episode you’ll learn about Vicar’s fascinating family legacy, stretching back to Puerto Rico, where her family owned a supermarket reminiscent of a Walmart.  Tune in as Vicar shares valuable tips for entrepreneurs looking to take control of their finances, build strong business foundations, and avoid common pitfalls. Her story of dedication and legacy is not only inspiring but packed with practical advice for anyone in business. . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

Join the MissionCTRL team and the PD Flight Crew for a spooky Halloween special! In this fun and festive episode, Ramon sits down with Jorge, Amanda, and Maggie for a lighthearted chat about all things Halloween. They dive into the creative process behind their costumes, sharing inspiration, construction hacks, and behind-the-scenes details that brought each look to life. Then, they reveal their favorite horror movies of all time—from chilling classics to modern thrillers that kept them up at night. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Halloween without candy! The team ranks their top five candies, debating the best treats for trick-or-treaters. Whether you’re tuning in for costume tips, movie recs, or candy opinions, this episode is a Halloween treat you won’t want to miss! Get into the Halloween spirit with this episode packed with costume ideas, horror movie recommendations, and sweet candy nostalgia. Whether you’re a Halloween fanatic or just in it for the candy, this special edition of MissionCTRL has something for everyone! . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

Joining Ramon and the PD Flight Crew in MissionCTRL studios is Marc Donald, a non-profit executive with expertise in education, social-emotional learning, restorative practices, social justice, and urban gun violence. Marc holds a BA in History from Hampden-Sydney College and an M.A.T. in English from the University of South Carolina. He serves as the President & CEO of Catalyst CT, formerly known as RYASAP. Over the past four decades, Catalyst CT has provided hope and support to underserved and marginalized youth, families, and neighborhoods.  Since 1985, the organization has positively impacted young people and their families by addressing mental health, addiction, gun violence, and workforce connections. They focus on community strengths, working with expertise in curriculum development, strategic planning, leadership coaching, social-emotional learning, urban gardening, fundraising, and media and technology. In this episode, Marc shares his journey from being an educator in the Bronx to leading the rebranding effort of RYASAP to Catalyst CT. Tune in to learn more about what drives Marc to work with the underserved communities and how he spearheads Catalyst CT’s core mission: building on the strength of the community by working alongside it. . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

Did you know that 74% of podcast listeners tune in with headphones? This means your voice isn’t just background noise—it’s directly in their ears, making every breath and every word crystal clear. In such an intimate space, great audio quality is essential. It’s the difference between your message resonating or your audience hitting pause.  Joining Ramon and the PD Flight Crew in the MissionCTRL Studios for this episode is Curtis Subryan, a Sergeant in the Mount Vernon Police Department by day and the Lead Audio Engineer at Iceolated Productions by night. Curtis is responsible for editing the MissionCTRL podcast. Subryan holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Bridgeport and grew up in a Guyanese household in the Mount Vernon section of New York. Curtis began his career in social services but realized it wasn’t the right fit. He pivoted to pursue his childhood fascination with DJ equipment and enrolled in the Institute of Audio Research. This led to prime internships at Sirius XM, where he worked on Martha Stewart’s Radio and Shaila Scott’s show on 98.7 Kiss FM. Now, as an independent songwriter and producer in New York, Curtis performs under the name IceO. He has written, produced, and recorded his first solo project, “Uncertainty,” which is available on all streaming platforms. Uncertainty, an album Curtis created during a difficult time in his life, features lush pads and melodic lyrics, creating a reflective vibe for anyone going through a period of uncertainty.  Tune in to hear Curtis Subryan’s inspiring story and learn about the critical role audio quality plays in retaining podcast listeners. . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

What if your mattress could be as unique as your fingerprint, tailored to your body’s needs and improve your sleep quality?  If you value a good night’s sleep as much as we do, you owe it to yourself to learn more.  This week on MissionCTRL, we’re diving into the future of personalized sleep technology with Robert Zukowski, co-founder and President of Custom Sleep Technology, a custom sleep technology company that is anything but dozing off.  Zukowski’s journey is not your random founder’s journey — he started in aerospace then shifted to the cosmetics industry after a fire decimated their latex manufacturing plant.  Robert considered himself a self-taught engineer who’s on a mission to revolutionize the mattress industry. In this episode, Zukowski shares how his frustration as a Talalay Latex salesman fueled his curiosity and led him to create CST’s patented Performance Line mattresses, which use the cutting-edge Color Comfort Sleep System™. These mattresses are custom-designed to fit your exact height, weight, and sleeping style, and even adapt to alleviate issues like back, shoulder, and hip pain. With free post-delivery modifications, your mattress evolves with you over time.  Tune in to discover how optimizing your sleep can transform your productivity, focus, and overall health as an entrepreneur or business owner. Robert’s insights into the science of sleep will show you why a good night’s rest might just be the secret weapon you’ve been missing. . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

What happens when a seasoned antitrust attorney turns his attention to the digital giants of our age? In this week’s episode of MissionCTRL, Ramon and the PD flight crew sit down with Gene Burrus, a man whose career has taken him from being an antitrust attorney at American Airlines, Microsoft and Spotify to championing fairness in the app marketplace. Gene joined us from his home in Oregon to share with us some landmark cases and battles he continues to fight to keep things fair for the independent developer. This isn’t just a discussion about legalities—it’s a deep dive into leveling the playing field for the little guys: app software developers and small businesses. Burrus hasn’t merely observed the changing tides of the tech industry; he’s been at the helm, challenging monopolistic practices and pushing for a fair terrain to compete. If you’ve ever wondered how antitrust laws affect the mobile apps you use every day—or if you’re a creator looking to survive in a market dominated by giants—this episode is for you. Gene takes us behind the scenes of his work at appfairness.org, an organization he founded to give small developers a fighting chance. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that blends legal insight with the drive for innovation, and discover why fairness in tech is not just an industry issue—it’s a societal one. . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

 With Q4 officially underway, the sad reality is that very soon most people will prematurely begin to hang Christmas decorations, skipping right over Halloween and Thanksgiving. For many, 2024 is a wrap and they will coast through the next three months on autopilot. The diets are given up on, the workouts fall off, and the sales pipeline begins to dry up. The lie they’ll tell themselves is that they’ll kick into gear in 2025. But you’re not average, and neither are our next guests joining Ramon in the MissionCTRL studios: Christopher J. Wirth from No Quit Living, Christian Palmer of Relentless Fitness & Nutrition, and Denzel Robinson of Inner Quest Coaching. Now is the time to keep your foot on the gas if you want to “Finish 2024 Strong” plan on attending Finish Strong a Personal & Professional Development Conference on Tuesday October 22, 2024 at the Norwalk Inn from 5:00pm - 9:30pm.  Now is the time to keep your foot on the gas if you’re planning on "Finishing Strong." If you’re planning to FINISH 2024 STRONG, surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals is a key component. In this action-packed episode, you’ll discover the importance of a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset in achieving your goals. We’ll dive into branding, networking, and collaboration, as well as how relationships and masterminds can accelerate success. You’ll also learn how four entrepreneurs turned their passions into thriving brands, covering everything from fitness and nutrition to developing effective habits and accountability systems. Plus, we’ll explore critical topics like testosterone health, building focus, and maintaining your leadership as a coach.  Whether you're looking to launch a brand, refine your coaching approach, or simply crush your fitness and business goals, this episode offers actionable insights for finishing the year strong. . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

Is entrepreneurship an innate trait, or is it a skill that can be learned and developed? Can you think like an entrepreneur even as an employee? Are we in control of our circumstances or just in how we respond to them? These are the questions our next guest, Maria Colon, wrestled with, leading her to take bold action in making a drastic career shift into business ownership.  Maria Colon, founder of EFS Digital, joins Ramon and The PD Flight Crew at MissionCTRL studios this week to share her inspiring journey.  At just 17 years old, Maria migrated from the Dominican Republic to the United States after facing multiple rejections for her visa application—a hurdle that would have discouraged many. But Maria's determination was a pivotal factor that fueled her persistence. Destined for greatness, Maria initially followed the traditional path in pursuit of the American Dream. It wasn’t until Maria realized that the ladder she was climbing was leaning against the wrong building that she decided to change course. In this episode, you’ll hear how Maria rewired her brain, as a self-proclaimed life-long learner, launched EFS Digital. Now, she helps business owners connect with people and generate consistent revenue through sustainable and proven digital marketing systems.  Tune in to learn how the contributing factors in Maria’s journey reshaped her career and led her to entrepreneurial success! . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

If you’re a golf fan and love entrepreneurial startup stories with unexpected plot twists, we’ve got you covered. This week on MissionCTRL, Ramon and the PD Flight Crew are joined by Ken Burns, founder of Bigga Balls, and Joe Ward, the company's Digital Marketing Manager. Burns started as a caddy at 12 and had his sights set on being a rock star but eventually joined the family construction business.  Burns Construction, founded by his dad, Ken Sr., in 1957 started as a residential paving company, but has since expanded its services to include utility companies and municipalities under Ken Jr’s leadership.  So how does someone with a background in construction pave a path into entrepreneurship and launch his very own golf brand? Ramon and the PD Flight Crew had plenty of questions, which Ken and Joe were eager to answer. Burns is a man with a grand vision and knows how to seize opportunities when they present themselves. To say Ken is a “Bigga Thinka” is an understatement! Tune in to also hear how Ken turned a simple request to park a food truck in the Burns Construction parking lot into the revitalization of the Cricket Car Hop, a Stratford community staple since 1949. This entrepreneurial journey is sure to inspire you to pull out the driver and go for the green! . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

If you're a lover of words, board games, and what was once considered nerdy geek culture, you'll feel right at home with our next guest. Joining Ramon and the PD Flight Crew in the studio is Kelly de la Rocha. De la Rocha is a poet, journalist, and founder of Poem Renovation. Forty years ago, as a distraught teenager dealing with her parents' separation, Kelly turned to poetry to help make sense of her turbulent emotions. During the pandemic, De la Rocha once again felt her world falling apart and found new meaning in her old poems by rearranging their words. That experience became the foundation for Poem Renovation, an online word game that is picking up steam. Poem Renovation is a catalyst for creativity and a tool that aids in literacy. It's also used to help people sort through and communicate their thoughts and feelings. The initiative has found a home in schools, where students are still struggling to overcome the effects of COVID-19 on their mental health and academic performance. There's also immense potential for Poem Renovation to benefit the mental health and continuing care communities.  Tune in to hear how Kelly transformed her old poems into an online platform without any coding experience. In this episode, you'll learn how De la Rocha used the same creative tools as J. Cole to unleash her creativity, as well as how she used her command of the written and spoken word to attract her tribe. To learn more about Poem Renovation, watch their video . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

This week on MissionCTRL, the PD Flight Crew is flying solo without Ramon, but the mission remains the same as Jorge steers the conversation alongside Kevin and Maggie in the studio. In this episode, the Flight Crew explores the challenges and best practices of networking, based on the practical principles they’ve applied over the years while building Peralta Design. Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, having the ability to win friends and influence people will directly impact your career and personal life. It’s no secret that people do business with those they like, know, and trust.  Tune in to this episode for tips on honing your networking skills. You’ll learn that networking is more than just handshakes and exchanging business cards—you need to have a method, process, and system for follow-up to get the most out of any event. Be sure to stay tuned until the end, where Jorge and the Flight Crew share upcoming networking events for you to implement the best practices discussed during this episode. . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

Our guest this week on MissionCTRL is Gary Wallace, the owner and founder of Hall of GraFX, a full digital six color imaging center located in Providence, RI . Wallace joins Ramon and the PD Flight Crew to share his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his days as a B-Boy growing up with Ramon inProvidence, RI. Gary’s curiosity for technology and passion for art from an early age, combined with his street hustle entrepreneurial mindset, have afforded him the opportunity to travel around the world.  So how did a kid from the South Side of Providence manage to work with brands like GAP, Old Navy, Banana Republic, AMEX, Reebok, Timberland, L'Oreal, Ann Taylor, VH1, FUBU, POLO, DKNY, Louis Vuitton, HBO, and Showtime, just to name a few? Before diving into Wallace’s personal story of how he transitioned from employee to employer operating his own very successful large format print shop, Ramon and the PD Flight Crew explore the controversy behind the breakdancing segment of the Olympics with expert commentary from Gary, one of the original TC5 crew members. His refreshing perspective is sure to make your headspin! . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

If you’re an entrepreneur or small business owner looking to get a handle on your business or seeking capital to scale, you won’t want to miss this episode. This week on MissionCTRL, Ramon and the PD Flight Crew are joined in the studio by Valerian Gomez. Gomez is a veteran entrepreneur and business advisor with a master's degree in organizational leadership, skilled in applying Lean Six Sigma principles.  Valerian grew up in the Bronx, New York, and majored in accounting. Although he excelled in the industry, he realized it was time to pivot. The work paid the bills, but it didn’t feed his spirit. Gomez decided to leave corporate America and enter the world of entrepreneurship, where he ran a successful Merry Maids franchise. After five years, he sold the business back to the franchise. Gomez has successfully directed both nonprofit and for-profit operations and has experience working within corporate settings as both an employee and entrepreneur. His diverse work experience gives him a unique perspective in serving clients at the Connecticut Small Business Association (CSBA), where he assists new and existing Connecticut entrepreneurs with their businesses. The CSBA provides a range of services, including startup assistance, scaling existing businesses, exploring capital access options, and applying Lean Six Sigma methodologies to improve operational efficiency. . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

Christopher J. Wirth joins Ramon and the PD Flight Crew in the MissionCTRL studios to share his No Quit story and inspire the audience. Wirth is the founder and president of No Quit Living (NQL), a speaking, coaching, and training company that focuses on culture, leadership, mindset, and accountability. No Quit Living works with individuals, teams, and corporations to help improve profitability, accountability, and effectiveness. NQL was the rainbow Christopher created after going through a stormy divorce. Christopher aims to motivate and inspire his clients to never give up on themselves, their dreams, or their goals. He is a sought-after keynote speaker. After playing both basketball and tennis in college, Christopher began his coaching career as an AAU basketball coach (Amateur Athletic Union), collegiate basketball coach, and high school basketball coach. Before diving into Christopher’s journey into entrepreneurship, Ramon and the PD Flight Crew review the Olympic highlights.  . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

This week on MissionCTRL, Ramon and the PD Flight Crew are joined by Joshua “Josh” Paiz, a fellow artist, auto enthusiast and founder of JPaiz Studios, for a riveting conversation about cars and his own personal evolution as a muralist. Paiz discovered his interest in art when his mother, a domestic worker, would bring home discarded scrap paper, which he used to create and entertain himself. As he immersed himself in the creative process, a passion started burning within him. Paiz faced the same frustration with the educational system that Sir Ken Robinson described as stifling students through a one-size-fits-all approach instead of nurturing their unique talents and creativity.  Paiz was fortunate to be surrounded by educators who fanned the flames of his passion and a mother who sacrificed by working odd jobs and collecting cans to place him in specialized art classes.  Though he was bullied as a kid, he discovered that his artistic talent gave him street credibility. Josh’s path to becoming a full-time freelance artist wasn’t without challenges.  Josh's journey mirrors that of Frank Shepard Fairey, the founder of Obey, who also took significant artistic risks along his path. Fairey's bold and unconventional approach to street art challenged societal norms and established him as a pioneering figure in the art world. Like Paiz, Fairey faced obstacles but leveraged his creativity to make a lasting impact.  Tune in to hear how Josh’s passion allowed him to travel the world, painting over 60 murals worldwide and counting . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

What makes the difference between someone who succeeds and someone who continues to struggle? How do you define success? What’s the differentiating factor? What separates leaders from followers? In this episode of MissionCTRL, Ramon and the PD Flight Crew host Jessica Rivera, Executive Business Coach and Mindset Master, who together, set out to answer these questions. Believe it or not, a lot has to do with the stories we’ve been told and continue to tell ourselves — in a word, mindset. Rivera had her first child at 19 and was determined not to become a typical teen mom statistic which catapulted her onto a journey of self improvement and professional development. Before launching her executive coaching business, Rivera was climbing the corporate ladder in a competitive industry for a top-five international bank. During her tenure, she led a team that brought in approximately 4 billion dollars in originations annually, which was by far the most in the company. In this episode, Jessica shares her secrets to leading high-performing teams and individuals: spoiler alert it was coaching, not managing, people. Tune in to hear a lively, deeply personal discussion on how Rivera led her team to attain their goals and cultivate meaningful relationships with each other and their clients. . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

Our next guest on MissionCTRL has a name that bears a striking resemblance to the call letters of a radio station, which is ironic because Lidj Lewis started his career at WWRL as an intern with Sonny Taylor. Lewis was born in Harlem and grew up in Brooklyn. He holds a BA in English/Communications from The City College of New York, an MBA from Pace University, and an MA in Secondary Inclusive Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Lidj is the Founder of The Trip Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that funds domestic and international field trips for public high schools in low-income areas. Tune in to hear how Lewis transitioned from the world of media broadcasting to education and into running a nonprofit. Before diving into Lewis’ story, Ramon and the PD Flight Crew tackle some amazing stories of BIPOC athletes in non-traditional sports, such as Lewis Hamilton in F1 and Biniam Girmay in the Tour de France. . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

Today's MissionCTRL show is special because it’s not every day that Ramon and the PD Flight Crew host a power business lunch, book launch, and record an episode with the same client/guest, Chris Jarvis. Jarvis is more than a client and guest; he’s Ramon’s high school buddy. Chris joined Ramon and the PD Flight Crew in the MissionCTRL studios to share his story and promote his latest book: *Be The Giraffe: 14 Paths to Reach Higher in Business and Life*.  Chris Jarvis is a corporate coach, financial fixer, and stirring speaker. Jarvis helps you see differently, so you can business differently, money differently, and life differently.  For decades, Chris has helped hundreds of successful entrepreneurs and wealthy families build, protect, and transfer significant wealth. After being kicked out of a company he built and sold, Chris found himself at a crossroads, questioning his purpose, dealing with the death and grief of a parent and sibling, and undergoing spinal surgery. When life starts lifing, you need an elevated perspective. Tune in to hear how Jarvis turned his trials along his journey into a testimony, a map of sorts to help you navigate out of your wilderness and stand out while reaching the highest levels of success.  As a bonus treat for our listeners, Jarvis shares a FREE code for a 19-page personality assessment.  The Wild Factor is a unique tool that focuses on your actual behaviors and feelings that you are experiencing right now – not on general preferences.  By comparing your actions to your desired outcomes, the Wild Factor gives practical tips to help leverage your strengths and improve other areas of your life.  Animal guides offer powerful visualization and memorable mantras for the customized recommendations that will help you on your journey to the Wild Factor! . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

This week on MissionCTRL, Sarah Taylor joins Ramon and the PD Flight Crew to share her unintentional entrepreneurial journey. After nearly a decade working within NYC Foster Care and Child Protective Services, Taylor suffered extreme burnout. Faced with the exorbitant housing costs associated with living in NYC and wanting to continue doing good in the world, Taylor decided to move back to Connecticut.  Sarah found healing and light at the end of the tunnel through beeswax candles. With a bachelor's in psychology and a master's in social work, Taylor didn’t originally set out to be a beekeeper.  Tune in to hear how a quest for a local beeswax supplier for candles gave birth to the Huneebee Project, which started as an LLC in 2018 and is now a certified nonprofit. Since its inception, they’ve graduated 8 cohorts from their 15-week Beekeepers in Residence therapeutic job skills training program and educated over 2,000 children and adults on the importance of pollinators. They maintain 40 honey bee colonies and over 20 pollinator-friendly garden plots across 9 sites in New Haven and Bridgeport. Before Ramon and the PD Flight Crew get to the heart of Taylor’s origin story, they cover the ongoing trend of social capitalism and consumers' expectation that the companies they support are making a difference in the world. . . . Find Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here!  To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #startups #creative #BrandU #w2 #fulltime #leadership #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #entrepreneurs #business #launchyourbrand

Pitch & Pixel, also known as Maggie, PD’s Marketing Associate and George, PD veteran staffer and interactive designer, join Ramon and the PD Flight Crew this week in the MissionCTRL studio for a special Tiny Desk performance. Maggie is PD’s resident triple-threat entertainer, and George is a semi-professional musician with over 40 years of experience as a guitarist. As the PD Flight Crew prepares for the next iteration of MissionCTRL on YouTube, they encounter a musical snafu that gave birth to this episode. Ramon and Kevin, the man of few words on the soundboard, share some of the challenges they encountered prior to launching MissionCTRL on YouTube, along with the valuable lessons they learned along the way. Before diving into Pitch & Pixel’s Tiny Desk performance, Ramon and the Flight Crew share keys for finding fulfillment in life while holding down a 9-5 job or being an entrepreneur. Sharing your gifts and passion can be the keys to happiness. • • • Find full episodes of Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website. Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture. Subscribe for more weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here! To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com. #welaunchbrands #launchyourbrand #BrandU #missionctrl #mctrl #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #creative #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #leadership #leader #entrepreneur #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurship #entrepreneurial #startup #startups #business #businessowner #businesstips #scalingyourbusiness #smallbusiness #w2 #fulltime #9to5 #office #officelife #music #podcast #podcasts #podcastshow #businesspodcast #lifestory #lifestories #personalstory #personalstories