Mission CTRL

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...

What happens when the very programs meant to fight poverty are on the brink of disappearing? For Michelle James, Executive Director of the Community Action Agency of Western Connecticut (CAAWC), that question isn’t hypothetical - it’s her daily reality. This week on Mission CTRL , Ramon and Jorge sit down with Michelle to unpack the vital role of Community Action in our nation’s social safety net....

What do family, friends, and a missed putt have in common? For Dr. Al B. Quarles Jr., they’re the foundation of Bucka Fogey Sports - a lifestyle brand born from friendship, golf, and a desire to look good while doing what you love. This week on Mission CTRL , Ramon and Jorge sit down with Dr. Quarles, Founder and CEO of Bucka Fogey, to explore how a single moment on the green turned into a growing...

 What do seven years of setbacks, a calling rooted in faith, and the story of Ruth from the Bible have in common? They’re all part of the journey behind Ruth’s House, founded by Jeanne Korman to provide loving homes for single moms and their children. This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Jeanne to explore how her own experience as a single mom of five - and the hardships, lonel...

What do Upward Bound Saturdays, a grandmother’s wisdom, and a suitcase full of robotics kits have in common? They’re all part of the story behind ACCESS Educational Services, founded by Gwen Brantley to expose underrepresented students to meaningful STEM opportunities. This week on Mission CTRL , Ramon sits down with Gwen to explore how her journey from HR professional to nonprofit founder has emp...

What do Puerto Rican roots, a suitcase full of t-shirts, and a fearless approach to rejection have in common? They’re all woven into the brand story of Taino Golf, co-founded by entrepreneur, teacher, and golf pro Ricky Collado and his son Emil. This week on Mission CTRL , Ramon sits down with Ricky to unpack how cultural pride and family entrepreneurship came together to launch a Latino-owned gol...

What do hibiscus tea, organic flour, and allergy-friendly meals have in common? They’re all part of the legacy of Claire’s Corner Copia, a beloved New Haven institution founded nearly 50 years ago by nurse-turned-restaurateur Claire Criscuolo. This week on Mission CTRL , Ramon sits down with Claire to uncover the secret behind her half-century of success in a world dominated by national chains. Fr...

What do a hand, a white golf glove, and Puerto Rican hospitality have in common? They’re all woven into the brand story of Buena Gente Golf, founded by empathy-driven creator and longtime UX/product designer Jon Madera. This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon sits down with Jon to explore how a simple logo - traced from a photo of his own hand - sparked an unexpected wave of excitement online and launche...