Mission CTRL

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Hector Pachas, founder of Hector Pachas Photography, for an insightful conversation about personal branding, authenticity, creativity, and the power of putting your best self forward. Hector discusses the importance of professional imagery in shaping how people see you online, explaining why updated, authentic headshots can help entrepreneur...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Denisse Luciano, Vice President of Human Resources at Centrix Dental and Founder of First Love Yourself, a nonprofit dedicated to domestic violence awareness, education, and empowerment. Denisse discusses the important connection between domestic violence and the workplace, explaining how employers and HR professionals can recognize warning...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Karen Roach, Founder and Executive Producer of K Starr Kollective, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, and finding the courage to build something of your own. Together, they explore Karen’s journey through different industries, the failures and unexpected detours that shaped her path, and how those experiences ultimately h...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Dominika Smaga, Founder of Rehydrate IV Infusion, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, wellness, self-care, and building a business around helping others. Together, they explore the realities of entrepreneurship, the importance of slowing down and listening to your body, and why recovery is just as important as the work you put in. Dom...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with legendary artist and art educator Curtis Grayson III for a conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, and turning your passion into a business. Curtis shares his journey from discovering his love for art at a young age to building a career that extends far beyond the canvas. Along the way, he’s faced rejection, unexpected opportunities...

This week on Mission CTRL , Ramon and Jorge sit down with Hiram Gandia Torres, owner of Pillar Solutions, for a powerful conversation about trust, integrity, entrepreneurship, and what it really means to serve your clients. In an industry where confusion can often be exploited, Hiram has built Pillar Solutions around a different philosophy: education, transparency, and doing what's right for t...

This week on Mission CTRL , Ramon and Kevin welcome former NBA player Ta'Quan Zimmerman, founder of Be a Baller, Not a Bully, along with his brother and COO, Duval Zimmerman, for a powerful conversation about resilience, purpose, and the mindset that changed everything. Before playing professionally and spending time with the Utah Jazz organization, Ta'Quan faced bullying, personal loss, a...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon Peralta and Jorge Pezo-Candelario welcome James Worthy, AI product developer and fellow podcaster, for a timely conversation about the growing AI consumer backlash - and what it means for businesses trying to stand out. As AI-generated content becomes easier to create, more brands are beginning to look and sound the same. The discussion explores the rise of AI fati...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon Peralta and members of the Peralta Design Flight Crew come together for a special milestone celebration - Episode 200. What began as an idea to amplify great stories, support entrepreneurs, and share meaningful conversations has grown into a platform that has featured business leaders, community changemakers, creatives, and innovators from across Connecticut and be...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Christopher Crespo and Cesar "C.J." Vertiz, co-founders of ADUKO LLC, to discuss a housing trend that could change the way homeowners think about their property. What started as a conversation between a mortgage professional and a construction expert quickly grew into a mission to help families unlock opportunities they may not rea...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Vicencia "Vee" Adusei, founder and president of VASE Construction, to discuss entrepreneurship, resilience, and what it means to lead in an industry where women are still underrepresented. Growing up in Ghana in a family deeply rooted in construction, Vee shares how witnessing roads, buildings, and infrastructure transform communit...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with LPGA Pro Estela Morales Segarra to discuss representation, resilience, and how golf can become a powerful tool for confidence, mentorship, and opportunity. Named the 2025 LPGA Northeast Junior Leader of the Year, Estela shares her journey from growing up in Mexico and learning the game from her father, to becoming one of the few Latina LPGA...

This week on Mission CTRL , Ramon and Jorge sit down with Cesar Barros, Founder and CEO of the Connecticut Business Networking Association (CBNA), to explore the power of authentic, in-person networking in an increasingly AI-driven world. Cesar shares why, despite the rise of automation and platforms designed to “connect” people, nothing replaces the trust and chemistry of a real human interaction...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Jeff Peduto, Consulting Partner at ERA Group, to unpack how businesses can stay competitive in an unpredictable economy, without sacrificing quality or customer experience. Jeff breaks down the real impact of rising tariffs and why many businesses feel stuck between absorbing costs or passing them on to customers. Instead of defaulting to pr...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Juan Paez-Romero, Business Performance Advisor at Insperity, to break down how he transformed his LinkedIn profile from a “set it and forget it” type of platform into a powerful engine for connection, storytelling, and business growth. Juan shares how showing up consistently, embracing vulnerability, and leading with authenticity helped him...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Andrea and Angel Perez-Montero, the husband-and-wife founders of SmartCuts Academy, to discuss how passion, purpose, and partnership can transform a traditional trade into a powerful vehicle for inclusion. Angel brings more than 25 years of barbering experience, while Andrea is a special education teacher. Together, they combined their exper...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Jay Norris - founder of Startup Westport, creator of ThoughtPartnr, chairman of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, and the visionary behind multiple ventures at the intersection of innovation, commerce, and community. Jay shares his journey from Detroit’s Motown roots to Howard University, from shaping cultural currency in the music industry...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Jamilah Prince-Stewart, CEO, and Duanecia Clark, Chief Strategy & Communications Officer of FaithActs for Education, for a powerful conversation about organized people, organized power, and what business leaders can learn from community-based organizing. From vaccine clinics and food distribution during the pandemic to housing initiative...

This past weekend, the biggest stage in the world became a mirror for culture, identity, and brand purpose. This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon Peralta is joined by the Peralta Design team - Jorge Pezo-Candelario, Maggie Kruse, and Kaed Gonzalez - for a Super Bowl 60 breakdown that goes far beyond the final score. While the game itself may have lacked fireworks, the halftime show and commercials spar...

What if the key to better business results isn’t strategy or systems - but how you show up for your people? This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Dora Thagouras, Founder and CEO of Clarity 13, leadership coach, HR executive, and Energy Leadership Master Practitioner. From growing up in her family’s Greek diner to spending over two decades in corporate leadership at brands like N...

This week on Mission CTRL , Ramon and Jorge are joined by Doug Rawady, Business Development Director at Sandler Training and Founder of Business Concierge Solutions, for a timely conversation on leadership, collaboration, and navigating uncertainty in today’s business landscape. Doug shares the story behind the Peer-to-Peer Council, a mastermind-style group launched with BRBC that brings together...

What happens when artificial intelligence stops being a future concept and becomes an everyday business reality? For the crew at Peralta Design, it’s less about replacement - and more about adaptation, efficiency, and keeping the human edge. This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon is joined by Jorge Pezo-Candelario (Director of Web Development), Kevin Atterbury (Senior Back-End Developer), and Kaed Gonza...

What if leadership growth starts with confronting the story you’ve been carrying your entire life? This week on Mission CTRL , Ramon sits down with Shirley Skyers-Thomas — attorney, Deputy Commissioner of the State of Connecticut, executive coach, and author of UnLEARNEDed: Honor Your Story, Release Restraints, and Embrace Your Power . Raised in Bridgeport by Jamaican parents and shaped by faith,...

What happens when a personal health crisis, an unexpected love story, and a shared belief in holistic wellness collide? For Paige and Ted Parker, co-owners and co-presidents of Vibrant Health, it led to a thriving company, a rebrand decades in the making, and a marriage strengthened through both challenge and choice. This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon sits down with Ted and Paige to explore the real...

What happens when a generation of kids is searching for confidence, connection, and a place to belong - while youth programs everywhere face budget cuts and shifting priorities? For Mike “Neech” Cannici, longtime Program Coordinator at the Boys & Girls Club of the Naugatuck Valley, the answer is simple: you keep showing up for them, no matter what. This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge si...