Mission CTRL

What do cloud backups, two-factor authentication, and “turn it off and back on again” have in common? They’re all part of the world Jose Velazquez navigates every day as co-owner of Carriage Trade Solutions, a Bridgeport-based managed services provider helping small and medium-sized businesses master the technology they need to thrive. This week on MissionCTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Jose t...

What do a perfectly packed lunch, a label maker, and a whole lot of hustle have in common? They’re all part of Rocio Lozada’s inspiring journey from cleaning homes to organizing lives - and launching one of Connecticut’s most recognizable Latina-owned businesses. This week on MissionCTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down en español with Rocio Lozada, founder of Rocio Organizer LLC, for a conversation that...

What do hacking attempts, dark web threats, and AI trickery have in common? They’re all part of the modern digital battlefield - and Darwin Lara is on the front lines. As the founder of EVO Corp, a premier cybersecurity and managed IT services firm, Darwin brings a unique blend of tech expertise, entrepreneurial grit, and sales savvy to his mission of protecting businesses from today’s digital thr...

What happens when two longtime leaders are suddenly asked to steer a statewide organization through a global crisis? For Kelly Juleson, Co-President of The Governor’s Prevention Partnership (GPP), the answer was: lead with clarity, compassion, and connection. This week on MissionCTRL , Ramon and Jorge sit down with Kelly to explore how she and her co-president Roland Harmon stepped into co-leaders...

What do commercial banking and community development have in common? According to Nick Sentementes, it’s all about relationships . After a 30-year career in commercial banking, Nick made a bold shift - from helping businesses grow capital to helping people grow stronger communities. Now serving as the Director of Development at Hall Neighborhood House in Bridgeport, Nick brings the same authentici...

What does it really mean to be an entrepreneur in today’s world - and how do you monetize not just your skills, but your mindset? According to Flory Hiatrides, it’s not just about what you do , it’s about how you think . This week on MissionCTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with returning guest Flory Hiatrides - entrepreneur, retreat host, and mindset coach - for a deep dive into the evolving landsca...

What happens when a global pandemic disrupts your life plans and shuts down the company you’ve worked at for 16 years? If you’re Ann Casarella, you turn the pause into purpose—and open your own esthetics academy. This week on MissionCTRL , Ramon, Jorge, and Maggie sit down with Ann Casarella, Founder of Glow And Grow Esthetics Academy in Danbury, CT. Ann shares how losing her corporate job and hav...

 What does it mean to really lead with positivity? This week on MissionCTRL , Ramon and Jorge chopped it up with Tom Matthews, Managing Partner at M.C. Fence, to unpack how intentional optimism and emotional intelligence are reshaping the workplace. Tom doesn’t just talk about leadership—he lives it. From fist bumps and thank-you notes to sharing tough truths with grace, he’s mastered the balance...

What does it take to turn a “no” into a movement? This week on MissionCTRL , Ramon and Kevin sit down with Lucas Pimentel, founder of Latinos for Educational Advocacy and Diversity (LEAD), to unpack how one man’s fight for educational equity sparked a statewide transformation. Lucas was just a teacher when he decided to help a group of parents bring a charter school to Danbury, Connecticut—a city...

What role do utilities play in strengthening small businesses and the economy? This week on MissionCTRL , Ramon and Kevin sit down with Frank Reynolds, President and CEO of United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), and Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), to explore the critical connection between energy, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. Frank shares insights into the Energize CT Small...

What if giving back could be as seamless as online shopping? This week on MissionCTRL , Ramon and Kevin are diving into the intersection of philanthropy, technology, and entrepreneurship with Christina and Buddy Prete, the visionaries behind Shopping Anyway. When her father passed away in 2022, Christina found herself continuing his decade-long legacy of charitable giving—handling donations to org...

What if you could build something greater by forging the right relationships? If that idea excites you, you’ll love this week’s episode of MissionCTRL. Join Ramon and the PD Flight Crew as they dive into the power of strategic partnerships and entrepreneurship with Secundino "Sec" Paulino, Founder of Sector 3. Born in the Dominican Republic as the youngest of 14, Sec’s journey is one of...

What if you could design your life with intention rather than living by default? If that idea speaks to you, you’ll love this week’s episode of MissionCTRL. Join Ramon and the PD Flight Crew as they explore the power of manifestation and personal growth with Flory Hiatrides, Founder of A Wakened Events (AWE). After experiencing profound loss at 40—losing her father, her company, and suffering a mi...

What if you could scale your business or non-profit with strategic solutions tailored just for you? If that idea excites you, you’ll love next week’s episode of MissionCTRL. Join Ramon and the PD Flight Crew as they dive into the world of business consulting with Kevin Patrick, CEO of Intelistra Financial Group.  With a rich background in corporate development, private equity investing, and financ...

What if your favorite pair of sneakers could be a canvas for your creativity, blending art, culture, and personal style? If that idea excites you, you’ll love this week’s episode of MissionCTRL. We’re stepping into the world of custom sneaker design with Matthew Smith, founder and owner of Kicksmith Studio, where he’s reimagining the traditional paint-and-sip concept—this time, for sneaker enthusi...

In today’s digital age, protecting personal information is more important than ever. But what happens to your data after you trade in or dispose of an old device? In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of secure data destruction with National E-Waste Services founders, Joe Perun and Rishi Patel, leaders in the field of electronic device sanitization. Discover how this innovative compa...

Are great leaders made or born? If you are passionate about leadership and personal development then this episode is for you!  Join host Ramon and the PD Flight Crew as they sit down with Christine A. Daniels, a transformational executive coach and leadership consultant with over 30 years of corporate experience, including executive roles on Wall Street and in private equity startups. Growing up o...

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 f...

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 f...

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 k...

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 S...

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 techno...

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 sha...

  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 t...

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 o...