Episode IV, Season 3 - Ulish Booker, CEO of Spartan Global Network, Leads with Empower! Ulish is a retired professional football player, with World Bowl (NFL Europe) and Super Bowl rings, who has taken the jump into the adventure of entrepreneurship. Ulish shares his story and leadership lessons learned along the way from West Haven High School to Michigan State University followed by his jump to the professional ranks and his most recent adventure - founding the Spartan Global Network! 00:00: E...
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Episode III, Season 3 - we are joined by three students and two advisors from Hamden Hall Country Day School. Lisa Daly and Chase du Pont, the two advisors of the Princeton Peer Leadership Program at Hamden hall, as well as Jess Stanley, Alex Blaise, and Nick Perkins, senior students and Peer Leaders, join the Lead with Empower podcast to discuss their leadership experiences, their upcoming "Quarter 3" projects, and much more! 00:00: Episode Opening and Guest "Roll Call" Lisa (Teacher, Arts Depa...
Feb 11, 2021
Season III of the Lead with Empower Podcast continues with another tremendous guest! We are joined by Ken Martin for episode 2 of season III. Ken is co-owner of Colony Grill Development, LLC (Colony Grill) and has just begun his first year as an adjunct professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of New Haven. Ken does a wonderful job sharing stories and leadership insight about his professional career, athletic experience, and so much more! 00:00: Episode Opening and Guest...
Feb 04, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Season III of the Lead with Empower Podcast has arrived and we could not ask for a better guest to help us get things going strong in 2021 than Sara Stirling! Sara joined the Empower Team back in 2018 and currently serves as the VP of Marketing for Empower Adventures and Empower Leadership. Sara recently published a Lead with Empower blog article titled "Making Moves in 2021" and shares her leadership journey, along with her goals and plan of achievement, during our conversation! This is the fir...
Jan 27, 2021•50 min
The Lead with Empower Podcast wraps up 2020 with Donna, Tony, Greg, and Matt Jaskot (my parents and siblings!) - The Jaskot Family Leads with Empower! Donna is the Assistant to the Headmaster and Principal at Xavier High School, Tony is now retired, but served as a Teacher, Coach, and Athletic Director at Xavier High School for over 40 years. Greg is the Associate Director of Advancement and Associate Head Coach of the Football Program at Xavier High School. Dr. Matt Jaskot is a Professor in the...
Dec 30, 2020
Alyssa Caliguri , Assistant Director for 1st Year Student Success at Western New England University (WNEU), Mia Cariglia (2021), and Anthony Gelsomini (2021), both Orientation Group Leaders and Peer Advisors at WNEU, Lead with Empower. Empower Leadership has delivered a handful of team building experiences for the WNEU Orientation Group Leaders (OGL's), Peer Advisors (PA's), and 1st Year Students since May 2020 and we are so happy to catch up with Alyssa, Mia, and Anthony to see how the first se...
Dec 17, 2020•1 hr 24 min
Our next guest on the Lead with Empower Podcast is Dave Fazzuoli. Dave is a physical education teachers at North Haven High School whose primary course is "Project Adventure" - a sophomore physical education elective. After spending 2 years at Ridge Road Elementary School (2003-2005), Dave took over the Project Adventure PE curriculum at North Haven High School. Since 2005, Dave has helped students develop as leaders through a very intentionally designed adventure program. Here are the show note...
Dec 10, 2020
We have a very special episode this week as we catch up with the Operations Managers at our Empower Adventure Park locations in Oldsmar, FL., Middleburg, VA., and South Windsor, CT. Calvin Joustra (Empower Adventures Tampa Bay), Chris Fox (Empower Adventures Middleburg), and Paul Cappadona (Empower Adventure Park at Nomads) join me for a great conversation about the offerings at their Empower Adventures locations, leadership lessons learned from a wide range of challenges faced during 2020, and ...
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 54 min
Dr. Jan Jones Leads with Empower Dr. Jones is the Coordinator and Lecturer for Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of New Haven and a great friend of Empower Leadership. Jan brings a wealth of valuable leadership insight to our conversation; applicable to the hospitality and tourism industry and far beyond. Jan is extremely passionate about exploring and learning, health/wellness, and providing her students with valuable experiences that will impact them far beyond their time at...
Nov 19, 2020
Jania Pagan (Penn Foster HS), Janaya Merced (Penn Foster HS), Jada Merced (SABIS International Charter School), Kendrick Long (Springfield Renaissance School), and James Lightfoot (Urban League of Springfield) join the Lead with Empower Podcast. Jania, Janaya, Jada, and Kendrick are all young adults living in Springfield, MA. who participate in youth development programming with James Lightfoot - Director of Youth and Education Programs with the Urban League of Springfield. The Urban League of S...
Nov 12, 2020•1 hr 24 min
Tanner Kern Leads with Empower! Tanner is a recent graduate from the University of Connecticut and is an endurance athlete, inspirational content creator, and freelance writer. During our conversation, you will hear about Tanner's inspirational journey from 340 pound Division I football player at Lafayette College to 200 pound endurance athlete, as well as the important role leadership has played in Tanner's life as an athlete, a person struggling with physical and mental health, and much more! ...
Nov 05, 2020•1 hr
Hildie Heck, the Athletic Director for Lyme Old Lyme Schools, joins the Lead with Empower for episode 8 of season 2. Hildie has been in the Athletic Director role for the Wildcats since 2016. Prior to joining the Lyme Old Lyme community, Hildie was a physical education/health instructor and coach at Classical Magnet School in Hartford. Hildie is a classmate of mine from Springfield College and shares plenty of wonderful leadership insight during our conversation. Here are the show notes: 00:00: ...
Oct 28, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Our next guest on the Lead with Empower Podcast is Steve Opalenik. Steve is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Founder of The Promethean Project - a non-profit, community-based whole body wellness services provider. I first met Steve back in 2009 during our work together with Springfield College's LACES Program and, since then, Steve has done nothing short of tremendous work in the field of mental, physical, and emotional health! Here are highlights from Steve Opalenik Leads with Empower: 00...
Oct 20, 2020•1 hr 21 min
Jim Hofher, Defensive Analyst for Wake Forest University Football, joins the Lead with Empower Podcast! Jim has coached at both the collegiate and professional levels for 42 years since graduating from Cornell University in 1978, including his time leading the Cornell Big Red Football Program (1990-1997) and the University of Buffalo Program (2001-2005). Jim is an experienced coach and leader who offers tremendous insight relevant far beyond the gridiron. Here are the highlights from our convers...
Oct 14, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Ken Watson (Dean of Students) and Victoria Alderman (Community Relations Coordinator) from the Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg (FL) join the Lead with Empower Podcast. Ken and Victoria are both wonderful people doing some tremendous work with the Academy Prep scholars. Academy Prep ( https://stpete.academyprep.org/ ) is a nationally accredited non-profit middle school that empowers students qualifying for need-based scholarships to become future community leaders through a rigorous academi...
Sep 30, 2020•1 hr 18 min
Episode IV, Season II of the Lead with Empower Podcast features Dr. Terrell Hill - Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources (Windsor Public Schools) and the Founder and President of Black Leaders & Administrators, Inc. (BLAC). With over 27 years of experience in education and educational leadership, Dr. Hill brings tremendous insight, passion, and experience to our conversation. We learn about Dr. Hill's journey from Springfield, MA to Windsor Schools, discuss the leadership challenges p...
Sep 22, 2020•1 hr 27 min
Episode III, Season II of the Lead with Empower Podcast features a great conversation with Al Carbone - the Commissioner of the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC), a high school athletics conference in Connecticut. Al, in his 17th year as Commissioner of the SCC, brings a ton of leadership insight into the current state of high school sports in Connecticut. We discuss a range of topics, including the transformation of high school sports over the past 15 years, the impact of COVID-19 on high s...
Sep 09, 2020•1 hr
Season II of the Lead with Empower Podcast keeps rolling along with a wonderful, thought-provoking conversation with Mr. James Lightfoot III. James currently serves as the Director of Youth and Education Programs for the Urban League of Springfield, Inc. In his role, James is responsible for the design and delivery of in-school and out-of-school programming for teens and young adults in Springfield, MA. James' passion for youth and community development is evident in our conversation and in his ...
Sep 02, 2020•1 hr 53 min
Season II of the Lead with Empower Podcast begins with a tremendous guest - Dr. Ted France from Springfield College. Ted is a professor and co-department chair of the Physical Education and Health Education major at Springfield College. Ted also serves as the President of the Faculty Senate. I've known Ted since the Fall of 1999, first as one of his students, next as his graduate assistant, and now as a great friend. Ted is one of, if not the, best experiential educators I've ever crossed paths ...
Aug 26, 2020•1 hr 36 min
The first season of the Lead with Empower podcast comes to an end with the final episode - featuring Empower's Founders, Joe DeRing and Dan Jaskot. In a bit of a "dueling interview" format, Joe and Dan talk about the early years of entrepreneurship in 2009, the learning experiences and growth of both Empower Adventures and Empower Leadership, the "why" behind Empower, the challenges of COVID-19, and what is in store for Empower in 2020 and beyond! Leadership Notes and Other Highlights: 02:30: Jo...
Jul 09, 2020•1 hr 36 min
Coach Kevin Gilbride, most recently the Head Coach of the XFL's New York Guardians, Leads with Empower. Coach Gilbride has coached at the collegiate and professional levels for 40 years and is the proud owner of two Super Bowl Rings from his time as the Offensive Coordinator with the New York Giants. You will hear about Kevin's journey from student-athlete at North Haven High School to coaching at the professional level while also gaining valuable insight into what it takes to lead at the highes...
Jun 30, 2020•1 hr 10 min
Anthony Petruzzi, Head Coach of the Football Program at Raritan High School in Hazlet, New Jersey, joins the Lead with Empower Podcast. I first met Coach Petruzzi in 2011 during the first (of what is now 9) consecutive summer leadership intensive programs I have had the pleasure of leading for Raritan Football's raising senior student-athletes. Coach Petruzzi is one of the best leaders I've every crossed paths with - consistently helping his athletes find their absolute best on the field, in the...
Jun 23, 2020•1 hr 17 min
Nick Cerreta, Dean of Students and Head Coach of the Varsity Baseball Program at Xavier High School, Leads with Empower. Nick has been at Xavier High School since 2005, starting as an English Teacher and assistant in the Campus Ministry department before becoming the Dean of Students. Nick shares insight into how the Xavier Community responded to the COVID-19 situation - distance learning, cancelled athletic seasons, and virtual graduation, and much more! Leadership Notes and Other Highlights: N...
Jun 18, 2020•1 hr 20 min
Today's guest on the Lead with Empower Podcast is Pat D'Amato. Pat is originally from Wethersfield, CT., graduated from Xavier High School in 2012, and attended Stony Brook University on a full athletic scholarship (football) from 2012-2016. Pat is currently working for the Robert E. Morris Company; providing CNC machine tool solutions for manufacturers of precision parts in Northern and Central New Jersey. Pat shares plenty of insight regarding how leadership has played a role in both his athle...
Jun 16, 2020•46 min
Coach Kevin Loney joins the Lead with Empower Podcast! Kevin coaches in the Football Program Bowdoin College (Safeties & Running Backs) and is also their Director of Player Development. Kevin has an extensive coaching career of 20 years, including stops at Wesleyan University, the University of Notre Dame, and Nichols College. After graduating from Xavier High School, Kevin's leadership journey took him to Dickinson College (PA) where he studied Religion and History as a member of the Dickin...
Jun 11, 2020•1 hr 7 min
Coach John Vigue Leads with Empower. John is a former collegiate and pro baseball player and current manager of the Lady Alliance Softball Club - an elite travel softball organization based out of Clearwater, FL. In addition to his playing career, John has an extensive coaching past - including stints at the High School, Collegiate, and Semi-Pro levels. Leadership Notes and Other Highlights: John and I talk about the return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Florida is a couple weeks ...
Jun 09, 2020•1 hr 22 min
Dr. Lisa Hill Leads with Empower! Dr. Hill is currently the Chair of the Department of History at Hamden Hall Country Day School in Hamden, CT. Lisa has over 20 years of teaching and administrative experience at the secondary and collegiate level and shares wonderful insight into her leadership journey from student to educator. Lisa is a life-long learner - earning a BA in Liberal Studies from the University of Maryland, Masters' Degrees in US History and African American Literature from Emory U...
Jun 04, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Maggie Winiarski, Megan Dowling, Ashley Wooten, and Lindsey Smida from New Britain Parks and Recreation "Out of School" Programming Lead with Empower! I've collaborated with New Britain Parks and Recreation for the past 8 years, delivering Leadership Development Summer Adventures for their "Leaders in Training" camp, Staff Training and Team Building Workshops for their Summer, After-School, and Aquatics Staff Members, and After-School Enrichment for Middle School Students at both Slade and Pulas...
Jun 02, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Joining Dan for this week's episode of the Lead with Empower Podcast is Annie Drewry - Dean of Students at Mercy High School. Annie, a graduate of Mercy High School and Sienna College, is finishing up her second year as Mercy's Dean of Students after spending the previous 17 years as a teacher in the English Department. Annie provides a Mercy High School "distance-learning" update while sharing great stories about her journey from struggling student in Waterbury to Dean of Students at Mercy High...
May 28, 2020•1 hr 6 min
Fresh off of her unexpected early return from her Peace Corps Guatemala trip is Natalie Nyerick from Southington, CT. Natalie, a University of Connecticut graduate, was a team building facilitator and zip line guide at Empower in Connecticut (2018) prior to her service trip to Guatemala. Natalie shares great stories from her time with the Peace Corps and insight into her next adventure in life! Leadership Notes and Other Highlights: Team Building Facilitation hints and pointers from Natalie base...
May 26, 2020•55 min
