Mission CTRL

Mark Lazarus joins Ramon and the PD Flight Crew this week in the MissionCTRL studios to share his 20-year journey in IT and discuss how IT programs are transforming lives. Lazarus serves as the Program Manager of Information Technology at The Workplace’s Tech Ready Career Training Program . In high school, Mark was an avid athlete, participating in basketball, track, and martial arts. After an inj...

This week on MissionCTRL, Ramon and the PD Flight crew sat down with the CEO and founder of Latin Financial, Sonia Alvelo. After graduating high school in Puerto Rico, Alvelo dreamed of living in the United States, a dream her aunt helped turn into reality. Alvelo landed in Bristol, Connecticut, and seized every opportunity afforded to her by attending ESL classes and practicing English through wa...

This week on MissionCTRL, Ramon and the PD Flight Crew sit down with Jermaine Brookshire Jr., Esq., an attorney at Wiggin and Dana LLP. Wiggin and Dana is a full-service law firm renowned for its highly talented, creative, and experienced lawyers who are dedicated to exceeding their clients' expectations daily. With offices in Connecticut, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Palm Bea...

Ep. 130 Lessons in Living and Selling with Doug Rawady   This week on MissionCTRL, Doug Rawady, a lifelong veteran sales professional, joined Ramon and the PD Fight Crew to share his personal development journey. Doug started his career in Westchester, New York, working in the family business. At an early age, Rawady learned he had a knack for using his charismatic personality to increase the size...

This week on MissionCTRL, Ramon and the PD Flight Crew present an electrifying episode with Paul Brunson, accompanied by plenty of pre-wired electrical puns. Brunson, a licensed electrical contractor in the State of Connecticut, boasts over nine years in the construction industry.  Paul’s interest in becoming an electrician was sparked during a part-time gig, marking a non-traditional entry into t...

On this episode of MissionCTRL, Ramon and the PD Flight Crew sit down with Thaddeus “Tad” Stewart, the managing principal at Integrated Design and Construction. Stewart was born and raised in Bridgeport, CT, and later relocated to Huntington, CT.  As a young man, Thaddeus was athletic, playing three sports; this competitive prowess proved valuable when he transitioned into business. Thaddeus was i...

Ramon and the PD Flight Crew sat down with Oliver Antigua, President of Pinnacle Basketball Group to talk all things sports and leadership in this episode of MissionCTRL. Antigua immigrated from the Dominican Republic to the Bronx with his mother, aunt, and two brothers. Sports played an integral part in Oliver’s childhood development and can be credited with keeping him on the straight and narrow...

Ramon and the PD Flight Crew welcome strategic partner, colleague and former mentee Mercy Quaye back to MissionCTRL. Quaye has built a storied career spanning over a decade in journalism, communications, and public relations, both in New Haven and statewide. A New Haven native, Mercy holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and a master's degree in Public Relations, Social Media, and Applie...

Put your earbuds in and buckle up as Ramon and the PD Flight Crew take you on a “fast & furious” journey through MissionCTRL with special guest, professional race car driver and instructor, Elivan Goulart.  Shift gears right into the world of high-speed racing, entrepreneurial ventures, and personal achievements with a real-life racing legend. Originally from Brazil and now a proud dual citize...

This week on MissionCTRL, Dr. Chaka Felder-McEntire joined Ramon and the PD Flight Crew to share what she’s been up to at Higher Heights since making the leap to being its full time Executive Director.. On Saturday, March 23, from 9:00 am to 11:30 am, Higher Heights will host an ⁠Educational Summit ⁠ at the Canal Dock Boathouse in New Haven.  In 2003, Dr. Felder-McEntire started Higher Heights as...

This heartwarming episode of Mission CTRL Ramon and the PD Flight crew sit down with half of the dynamic duo of Dusty Dudes Woodworks and The Bristol Bazaar, Care Verikas.  Care met the love of her life on Match.com, and after a 10-hour marathon first date she discovered Eric also had a furry friend named after food, and she thought to herself, “This must be fate!”  Eric, a skilled craftsman and C...

In this episode of Mission CTRL, Jahkeeva Morgan, Director of Programming at The Lab at ConnCorp joins Ramon and the PD Flight Crew to share her career journey of self discovery. The Lab at ConnCORP serves as a learning and knowledge center for new ideas, a community small business hub, and a place to exchange ideas about business ownership and entrepreneurship. Morgan, a dedicated professional, f...

During the episode of Mission CTRL Ramon and the PD Flight Crew sit down with engineer and educator Kia Huggan, the young, visionary founder behind Webquity.  Webquity is an innovative saas company dedicated to empowering neurodiverse learners with innovative accessibility tools.  Their first product, 'Digital Glasses,' allows users to tailor their online experience to their unique needs. ...

On this special edition of Mission CTRL Ramon and the PD Flight Crew are joined by a self-proclaimed member of the Swiftie Camp, PD’s Marketing Assistant, Maggie Kruse, to recap Super Bowl LVIII and this year’s Best and Worst Commercials. The PD crew discusses how Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to victory in overtime, handing the 49ers the “almost” M&M’s ring which MARS, Inc. featu...

In this episode of Mission CTRL, join Ramon and the PD Flight Crew as they share the joys and pains of inner city life, community service, and believing in yourself with Dr. Monette Ferguson, the CEO and Executive Director at Alliance for Community Empowerment (formerly ABCD) in Bridgeport, CT. Born in poverty to a single mom, Dr. Ferguson has dedicated her life to empowering others and serving th...

In this episode of Mission CTRL, join Ramon and the PD Flight Crew as they engage with Christopher Price, the CEO/Founder of Red Fox Multi-family. With over two decades of experience in business operations within the life sciences sector, Price has made significant contributions in the pharmaceutical industry, notably in facilitating access to life-saving medications. Price spent his formative yea...

This week on Mission CTRL Ramon and PD Flight Crew welcomed Fran Pastore, the Founder and CEO of the Women’s Business Development  Council (WBDC).  Back in 1997, Pastore, standing at a crossroads of necessity and fervor, had a vision for the Women's Business Development Council (WBDC).  Tune in to hear how Pastore divorced, with two small children, very little work experience and few prospects...

In Larry Janesky’s second segment of Mission CTRL, Ramon and the PD Flight Crew dive deeper into branding, team building, leadership, journaling, productivity tips and the origin behind Larry’s famous "all things basementy” branding. Other topics Larry covers in this episode include: The Top 3 Brand Strategies to help your business, revenue and reputation flourish; journaling tips for manifes...

Ramon and the PD Flight Crew welcomed Larry Janesky to the Mission CTRL studios. A native of Bridgeport, Janesky's entrepreneurial journey to success spanned 40 years. He holds 32 patents and manages 40 companies under the Contractor Nation brand. Janesky's business model is straightforward: he assists contractors in growing their businesses by selling them products. More than just a busin...

This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and the Flight Crew sat down with the Executive Director of CT Next, Onyeka “Ony” Obiocha.  Born and raised in Windsor Connecticut, Ony’s interest in entrepreneurship was sparked by his father who arrived home one evening with dozens of gum ball machines and announced he would be placing them in local barber shops throughout Connecticut.  Ony’s first foray into ent...

This week on Mission CTRL Ramon and the PD Flight Crew had the pleasure of interviewing the host and executive producer of Melissa in the Morning at WICC.  In 2019 Connoisseur Media hired Sheketoff and by the spring of 2020 she took over the morning talk show as the first female and youngest host in WICC’s history.  Melissa is a dynamo with an infectious personality and a master storyteller.  Shek...

On this episode of Mission CTRL, Ramon and the flight Crew sat down with Paul S. Lavoie, the Chief Manufacturing Officer of Connecticut.  Lavoie was appointed by Governor Ned Lamont as the CMO in February 2022.  Connecticut is the only state that has a Chief Manufacturing Officer position.  When appointing him, Governor Lamont said “manufacturing is a key sector of our economy and having this posi...

In this episode Ramon and the Mission CTRL flight crew unpack one the most strategic and culturally iconic recent  marketing campaigns that captured the hearts and minds of consumers from Gen Z to Boomers.  By leveraging Snoop Dogg’s personal brand, Solo Stove experienced a surge in its stock price following the news of their collaboration with Snoop.  Solo brands announced their third-quarter ear...

This week’s Mission CTRL episode is an international adventure filled with history, mystery and intrigue.  Born in Asunción, Paraguay in 1989 under the dictatorship of Gen. Alfredo Stroessner, mom, author and entrepreneur, Amanda Mottola would find her way to the United States by way of adoption.  From an early age Amanda knew she was different as her classmates would ask: why don’t you look like...

In this episode, Dr. Noel Sepulveda discusses how he is passionate about making chiropractic services accessible to all.  A lifelong resident of Bridgeport with deep ties in the community, Dr. Sepulveda knew he wanted to be a doctor from an early age; he just had to figure out how he was going to make that happen.  Through grit and determination, Dr. Sepulveda served as a barber for four hours dur...