Work Relationships Matter (WRM)

Chelsea Benham-Callender is a musician, sound meditation practitioner, vegan baker, and cannabis infusion specialist from Sacramento, California. She utilizes her extensive culinary expertise to craft delicious offerings, redefining the world of gluten-free vegan baking & cooking. Passionate about the healing power of sound vibrations + medicinal herbs, specifically in regards to mental health...

Zeke Ivy,  Hearing Officer at California Department of Health Care Services, grew up in a loving two-parent house hold with and older and younger brother in San Jose. Both parents were professionals who set positive examples for him. He was very interested in becoming a salesman like his father. He earned a business degree from Florida A & M. After graduating he sold financial products at a fi...

Dr. Jenni Murphy, Vice President of Enrollment and Engagement at Sacramento State, is also the founder of Project Attain, an adult re-entry program.  That is a long title which matches her work history. She has worked a variety of jobs including Taco Bell supervisor, corporate trainer, Continuing Education executive and Vice President. No matter what she takes on, she makes it better. Jenni is cre...

Beth Hassett, WEAVE CEO, grew up in a performing arts family. Both of her parents were actors. She did a few on-stage performances but was more interested in marketing and promotions. However, her real passion was helping disadvantaged and underserved communities. WEAVE is the primary provider of crisis intervention services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking. B...

Portia High, Real Estate Professional, had an ideal childhood.  She was raised by two loving grandparents. She learnt warmth and compassion from her grandmother and purpose and discipline from her grandfather. Her extended family and friends are nurturing and supportive. She had her first child when she was a freshman in college which could have been a setback. However, Portia and her grandmother...

Alex Rachal, Commercial Account Executive, at West Coast Fire and Water, was born to be a salesperson. After graduation from college, he joined an Enterprise rental sales team.  He like so many former college athletes was recruited by that firm because it values their competitive nature, discipline and drive. While the work was stimulating the pay was stagnating. He sold financial products for a w...

Angie Rivera married young raised her children and then went back to college to fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. Rather than provide class room instruction, she went to her students’ homes to teach them and provide life skills. Her clientele were Mexican immigrants. In addition to teaching her course load, she had to help non-Spanish speaking instructors by translating subject matter for t...

 Quentin Foster, Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs at H Cycle LLC, was in foster care until he was 17 years old. Like a lot of children in the foster care system, he moved frequently. While that was less than ideal, that helped him build relationships quickly and navigate effectively in diverse communities. His story underscores my podcast tagline: “Relationships work for those who wor...

Myles Taylor’s father was a disc jockey and musician as was his grandfather. As a result, he grew up listening to rhythm and blues and jazz. He played in his high school and college bands. Those experiences taught him teamwork and discipline. He is using those lessons to hone his leadership skills and guide his life. He is an accomplished musician and educator. His band is touring locally and just...

Edward Jones is a Certified Life Coach,Podcast Host and Blogger. He worked in the public and private sectors. In this podcastepisode he discusses how risks, mistakes, failures and successes are connected. He states that we have to take risks to learn and grow. In fact, not takingrisks is a risk because life and work are dynamic. Either people operateproactively to get what they desire or react to...

Bentley and Tiffany Callender, co-owners of Callender Insurance Services. As a student in college, Bentley got an internship with an insurance company. After graduating he worked for a couple of insurance firms. With an appreciable number of years of work experience, he started Bentley Callender Insurance Services. Tiffany got a work permit at 15 years of age and worked as a tamale cart vender. Sh...

Shlanda Breeden, Ms. National US, Animal Advocate and Community Leader, Is a beauty queen who loves animals. She has been able to leverage pageant competitions to draw attention and secure donations for animal health care. She also helps bring joy to pet owners and (what she calls) their fir babies by starting a business called Kit Kat Poochie Party Planners. Dog lovers all over the area take adva...

Shlanda Breeden, Ms. National US, Animal Advocate and Community Leader, always loved animals. She was known for bringing in stray cats and dogs as a child. With her support, compassion and family resources the animals were cared for until they were adopted or moved to a reputable shelter. Caring for animals continues to be her passion. She became even more compassionate when one of her dogs contra...

Karl McKenzie, Co-founder of WeTourPanama, closed his notary business, sold his house and moved to Panama with the dream of opening a tour company with a business partner. After his divorce he wanted to start over. When his business partner pulled back on the project, he had to regroup. While looking for love he met a woman who was recently laid off from a touring company. After a whirlwind romanc...

Karl McKenzie, serial entrepreneur, son of a Jamaican immigrant, is one of the most fascinating stories I have heard. His father came to America as a stowaway on a cargo ship during the depression era. Karl learned perseverance from his father, compassion from his mother and discipline from his siblings. However, he didn’t apply those qualities until later in his life. He like some of my previous...

Alvin McClure is a retired Information Systems Manager who was a head of his time. He started working with computers long before they were mainstream. He regrets not finishing his college education but was in great demand because of his technical and computer networking skills. Although he was excellent in his vocation, he has many interests including architecture, foreign languages and music. He...

Isaac Serwanga is an Inspirational Speaker, Educational Consultant and Author. Isaac is a personable and charismatic person. He used those gifts to become a positive influence on other students, teachers and administrators in high school. As a result of his IQ, EQ and athletic ability, he earned a scholarship to Princeton University. He had his heart set on becoming a doctor. When that didn’t work...

Isaac Serwanga is an Inspirational Speaker, Educational Consultant and Author. He is the seventh of seven children born to his Ugandan family who move the Sacramento in 1979 to escape an oppressive dictatorship. His family didn’t have bootstraps, but they pulled themselves up with grace and determination. As a result of his academic and athletic success, Isaac earned a scholarship to an Ivy League...

Chibwe Chungu Founder and CEO of Banyan Tree Skills Academy, was born, one of ten children in Zimbabwe. Although her parents didn’t have a formal education, they worked with their children to re-enforce what they learned in the classroom. She used that foundation to excel academically. As a result of her academic success, interpersonal skills and drive, she earned scholarships and prominent positi...

The Edward Jones is a Certified Life Coach, host of this podcast and author of a blog also titled, Work Relationships Matter. His career spanned over thirty-five years in leadership roles in public, private and non-profit organizations. As you can imagine, he spent a lot of time in meetings. Through these experiences, he has learned how to help leaders make meetings more mission driven, goal focus...

George Downey grew up in a small town near Boston, Massachusetts. He had an interest in the military which led him to West Point. While there he acquired his EMS certification. He had an opportunity to become an officer but didn’t feel comfortable commanding soldiers in battle. He dropped out of the Academy and got a job on a cruise ship. During one of the excursions, he encountered an EMS team. A...

Dr. Nen Huang, Holistic Coach and Aromatherapy Practitioner, is a lifelong learner because she is curious. Her journey started in China where she earned a degree in nursing. Interested in other cultures, she moved to Saudi Arabia where she worked in a medical facility for a few years. Still curious to learn about other parts of the world, she moved to the United States and landed in Sacramento whe...

Joann Peterson had abusive parents and then married an abusive husband. As a result of those relationships, she was filled with self-doubt and suffered bouts of depression. Raising three children as a single parent wasn’t easy, but she wanted to give them the love and support she did not get. After they grew up and moved away, depression found her again. She felt the need to change careers from ch...

Most people would say Bruce Armistead, Chief of Rail and Operation Delivery for the state of California, is in an unlikely position given his background. He grew up in an inner-city neighborhood in New Jersey. He lived modestly and his school was under resourced, but he had a vision. He enjoyed working with numbers and saw life as a balanced equation. If something was missing onone side of an equa...

"Picture the Future ''. Airric Qualls tried his hand at other endeavors before finding his way into the film industry. He is a skilled actor but appears more comfortable behind the camera where he can help others succeed. Rather than waiting by the phone for a call for an opportunity to display his talents, he creates his own. He and his team prepare scripts and produce short films and shop them o...