Charge Podcast

Nick Powills, CFE, is author of Sticks & Stones. Nick strives to share how his personal struggle with weight and being teased as a kid fuels his drive toward being a successful entrepreneur. Powills' book, published by Inc. Magazine, and seminars help audiences learn how to turn their own struggles into strengths, helping them achieve more--on their own terms. Nick founded No Limit Agency, a full-service communications agency in 2008 and serves as chief brand strategist for the Chicago-based firm. ​ Nick also founded 1851 Franchise and ESTATENVY, two content marketing publications and platforms.

Steve Hughes is a professional speaker who helps people look and sound smart when they talk. He's the author of the book "Captivate" and he's been featured on NPR, BBC Radio, and in The Wall Street Journal. He's a former co-owner of an advertising agency and he lives in St. Louis with his wife and their two well behaved daughters.

Crissy Butts is a Happiness Coach, is a professional speaker and trainer. She teaches organizations how to better Engage, Connect & Thrive in their workplace relationships as well as their relationships at home.   Because happy workers are safer workers, less stressed, and more productive, she consults with leaders who want to improve morale, mental resiliency and foster a culture of positivity in the workplace.   She is the author of You Choose Your Path, creator of The Workplace Power Hour, The Family Power Hour, The Sunshine Strategy Assessment Tool, 21 Day Happiness Challenge and is releasing a new book this summer, "Happier Connected!"   On a personal note, she has lost 4 family members to suicide which fuels the efforts of her work. She and her husband have been married 30 years. They have 5 children, 15 children, a cat & a parakeet and have lived in Alaska and Costa Rica.  

Lucinda Perry Jones is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Operation Food Search, a hunger relief organization in St. Louis, Missouri. Lucinda's expertise centers around organizational strategy and transformational change. She brings 30 years of experience working in  the private, public, and non-profit sectors in the fields of public health; cultural, advocacy, and academic institutions; and grocery retail.

Kim Becking is an engaging, high-energy, fun and impactful motivational keynote speaker, change and leadership expert, success coach and award-winning author who helps organizations and leaders conquer change, boostresilience and build a Momentum Mindset® to accelerate success no matter what. Kim knows a thing or two about change and challenges through her own experiences in business and life.  As an attorney, serial entrepreneur running two successful businesses for over two decades, communications strategist and “recovering” political consultant, Kim has conquered the ever-changing tough worlds of business, government, and politics.  She’s also conquered breast cancer and other life challenges.     Kim provides practical tools and strategies to effectively manage change and deal with difficult people, tough conversations, and hard issues.   Kim doesn’t want you to just bounce back after change and adversity – she wants you to develop a Momentum Mindset® where you bounce higher, push past limited thinking, g

Mark Ricca is currently the President and CEO of Municipal Credit Union, the largest NYC credit union ($3 billion in assets) with almost 600,000 members and over 700 employees. Previously, he was the President and CEO of First American International Bank, a NYC based Chinese American bank and the CFO at Carver Federal Savings Bank, the largest African American-Caribbean bank in the US. Prior to banking, Mark had worked as a lawyer and also had worked in finance and audit at GE.

Marla Sullivan is a native Texan who studied at Kilgore Junior College, Baylor University, University of Texas at Austin, and Tarleton Central Texas. She is an elementary school principal in Copperas Cove ISD starting her 30th year in public education. Marla is a proud mom of 2 young adults and an even prouder "Amma" to a grandson and granddaughter. Her leisure time passions include cooking, reading, journaling/blogging, music, boxers, spending time outdoors, and growing succulents. Professionally, her passion is bringing positivity into the world and inspiring others to do the same.

20+ years ago Madena Parsley started sponsoring children in Peru to show her kids, who were born into a very comfortable middle class home, that there are children who are less fortunate in different parts of the world who deserve a chance to Thrive. 15+ years later that sponsorship ended as those kids reached the age of 16, the age they graduate high school in Peru. In those 15+ years Madena had become part of the family of her sponsored kids, even named God Parent at her Quinceanera. When Madena got news of the cancellation of my sponsorship, she knew that she had to continue her support in some way. After all, age 16 is when you need the most support! After looking for another charity to fill the gap she realized there weren’t any that focused on teens/young adults in the area, so Madena started my own to fill the gap, in 2011 Casa Sana was born.

Sarah has over 13 years of experience working on the web and over 16 years of experience working in and leading nonprofit organizations. She co-founded the Open Center for Autism in 2005 with Valerie Paradiz, served as the deputy director of the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership (GRASP), and executive director of the Helping Children of War Foundation. Sarah received her BA from the University of Chicago with a focus on globalization and its effect on marginalized cultures, studying in Spain, Tanzania, and Cuba, and finally moving to Japan to teach English. In 2009 she completed a master's degree in Humanistic and Multicultural Education at SUNY New Paltz. She is the co-author of Lesson Planning a la Carte: Integrated Planning for Students with Special Needs (AAPC Publishing).

Cathy L. Davis founded Davis Creative, LLC in January of 2004 after many years of marketing high-net-worth financial services. As a professional brand and author consultant, Cathy and her team of veteran marketing professionals help business owners find their voice, write their story and monetize their passion.

Jena Rodriguez is a Business, Brave & Visibility Strategist, Speaker, and the founder of Brave Masters, Inc. She's committed to accelerating your visibility, catapulting profits, and unleashing the full human potential of entrepreneurs internationally by teaching coaches and consultants how to capitalize on their “natural” abilities, and package and price their greatest strengths so that they can create a money-making, world-changing movement. Over the last decade as an entrepreneur, Jena has learned that the ONE thing needed to reach our fullest potential in life and in business is BRAVE. Being brave is about saying YES without evidence, moving through fear, and being uncomfortable yet doing it anyways! By getting her BRAVE on, she was able to move from charging $89/hour to generating over $1.3 million in revenue over the last four and a half years. Jena has also helped her clients be brave and realize their value in their businesses, with several surpassing the multiple 6-figure mark and seeing revenue

Heidi Marie Harris is the Associate Concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Her first job with the SLSO was as a section violinist, which she won while still attending the New England Conservatory during her senior year of college. A few years later she secured a section position in the Chicago Symphony where she remained for three years. Ms. Harris then returned to St. Louis as the Assistant Concertmaster and shortly thereafter earned her current position as Associate Concertmaster.   Ms. Harris began her musical studies on the piano at age three, and began studying the violin at age four. At age 13, she made her solo debut with the Utah Symphony under the baton of Joseph Silverstein, returning again to solo with the same orchestra at ages 15 and 19. After graduating high school from the Interlochen Arts Academy, Ms. Harris earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory, attending under full scholarship. Ms. Harris also served as an extra violinist in the Boston Symphony Orc

Here is the recap of the fifth season of the CHARGE Podcast. Check out our show notes at CHARGEPODCAST.COM for more information. 

Jeff Cobb helps individuals and organizations leverage the power of learning as a catalyst for positive change. He is a co-founder of Tagoras, co-host of the weekly Leading Learning podcast, and author of multiple books, including Leading the Learning Revolution: The Expert's Guide to Capitalizing on the Exploding Lifelong Education Market. As a strategic advisor and entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience in the global market for lifelong learning he has helped hundreds of organizations in the learning business maximize the reach, revenue, and impact of their offerings. Jeff also speaks frequently on the connection between learning, innovation, and transformation for both businesses and individuals.

At the core, Jaime Jay is a connector of personalities and brands. He constantly challenges himself to be a better human being. He is also an amateur hockey player and starter geek who truly enjoys helping his clients rediscover themselves, their companies and how to realize their "WHY". Jaime Jay has worked with clients in Canada, the United Kingdom, America, Philippines, other countries in Asia and New Mexico and is responsible for growing and leading multiple management, sales, and operating teams. He co-founded and operated a publishing company where he helped create, publish, and distribute a regional real estate publication and is a recipient of the Army Achievement Medal for Meritorious Service. Jaime has hosted a Top 100 Business Podcast in iTunes, and he has also been selected to speak on a marketing panel and was awarded the "Top Gun Consulting Maverick Award" in recognition of his outstanding marketing performance. Jaime Jay is the founder and managing director of Bottleneck Virtual Assistants. Tog

Debra is an Emmy nominated television producer and host on a mission to inspire our nation’s health transformation. In an effort to bring positive and inspirational messages to a bigger audience, she founded Well World TV which will launch in early 2019.  She has produced and hosted two television shows, both of which are airing on PBS and currently is working on a new series in partnership with media award winning, Linzi Martinez. The Prime Time, will broadcast in traditional television and online. A seasoned entrepreneur, Debra has extensive experience in business development, marketing and as a former Fortune 250 executive, a deep understanding of consumer behavior which guides the development of Well World TV.

Sonja Stetzler is an executive communications coach and owner of Effective Connecting, a training company specializing in developing and improving employees’ communication skills. One of her programs, Conversational Intelligence (R), teaches how quality conversations shift body chemistry and guide our ability to develop trust and build better relationships. This translates into increasing employee engagement, reduced turnover, higher productivity, and success in the business world.

Alex Demczak is a former SEC quarterback for the Missouri Tigers. Alex graduated with a degree in Communication and a minor in Business.   Alex is an inspiring communicator, facilitator and trainer who challenges businesses, schools, sports teams, and non-profits to maximize their potential and make a difference. Alex is the author of Thrive U. The inspirational book is a collection of stories from 100 collegiate and professional athletes from across the country. The book has been used by many youth groups, schools, and businesses as a resource to help others maximize their platform and Thrive rather than simply survive.   Alex is a top keynote speaker and trainer for the Jon Gordon Companies. He frequently delivers keynotes and conducts training programs based on The Power of Positive Leadership and The Power of a Positive Team with the goal of helping leaders transform their teams and change the world. Alex is an innovative entrepreneur that has a knack for starting new ventures such as Thrive U, Coach's Co

Mary is a business coach and confidant who, for the last 19 years, has been helping busy, ambitious people get more of the right things done with less turmoil drama and stress. She's recently published her first solo book, Making Minutes Matter: Your Guide to Being Content with How You Spend Your Time

Bryan Caplan helps businesses elevate their digital presence. A speaker for Grow with Google, award-winning CEO of Bryan Caplan Marketing and host of the Bigger Better Biz channel on YouTube, Bryan travels the country, presenting on a wide range of digital marketing topics to help small businesses grow and succeed. Bryan has provided digital marketing strategy to well over 1,000 businesses since 2010 and is a guest lecturer at Suffolk University School of Business. He is also a contributing columnist to several publications including GoDaddy, WorldPay, BlueHost, Constant Contact, BusinessTown, and the Boston Business Journal.