Bill Mitchell

Workplace: I am a real estate and business investor. I invest in people with a passion to grow an existing or new business that has the potential to impact the world in a positive way.

Role: I am a part of a network of people with integrity, capital, expertise and wisdom that is available to the leaders of each of our investments. I am a supporting character.

Passion: To see young people (18 to 55) assume the role that they were created to play in the marketplace. To help them see the source of their value and impact for good in the world.
Why

Voca: Its obvious, our youth possess the greatest potential for good in the world. The sooner they can see the source of that good and how they were created with unique gifts and talents the sooner they can start to have a positive impact.

Chris Talbot

Workplace: Currently, I work in the corporate headquarters of a major healthcare organization. My experience includes over 20 years in large organizations and early career experience working the student services in colleges, including a career planning and placement center. I also spent five years coaching, counseling and teaching people through career transition in the corporate outplacement business.

Role: I lead a good-sized human resource department supporting many executive and different business functions. I hire and develop people who love their jobs and wish to get even better them. The support we provide plays a part in helping managers and employees perform at their best to meet our company’s mission.

Passion: To see people find the work and role they love and pursue it wholeheartedly; to see people identify their unique set of drives, passions and interests, to add to this obtaining the skills and education/training needed to best enable working in their area of passion.

Why Voca: It took me so many years of searching and sorting in my own vocational journey that I want to help young people to have more support than I did. Young people thrive on encouragement and I think Voca does just that.

Dave Gerber

Workplace: Accounts Manager or “IT Guy” at Bizcare, Inc.; Crew Member at Trader Joe’s; Training to be a corporate trainer in Transformational Leadership at Culture ROI.

Role: At Bizcare, I oversee the relationships with our customers, empower people to feel confident about working with their computers, and for them to see Bizcare as partner rather than simply an IT company. At Trader Joe’s, I help create a fun atmosphere and instill value in people, and I put food on the shelves ; At Culture ROI, I am training to be a leader and catalyst who opens up possibility in the face of limitations in the lives of individuals and organizations.

Passion: I am passionate about opening up possibility in the face of limitation. I am passionate about understanding what people are committed to (their vision) and then standing with them to see that vision come to life!

Why Voca: With Voca, I see the tremendous opportunity to see students come alive through better understanding themselves, discovering and declaring what they are committed to, and empowering students to figure out how to make things happen.

Karen Bonnar

Workplace: San Ramon Valley High English teacher (primarily 9th and 11th grades) and Film teacher (seniors).

Role: I get stretched by my students; mainly I teach literature and seek to uncover the lessons books and stories offer us as readers and people; I also enjoy playing with language and learning how to use words strategically.

Passion: Words! Students! Young people! learning new skills! and learning about who we are and accepting who we are, who we are created to be. Probably what excites me most is hearing about the journeys we have taken and the present journey we are on; we each have a unique story to offer the world, sometimes we need a kind listening ear.

Why Voca?: I would like to help draw out these stories, the stories of the next generation. In telling the stories, we often discover who we are and what we are created to give back to the world. I want to help others believe in the validity of their story.

Paula Wong

Workplace: I own a private tutoring company called inGenius! Learning Center that helps high schoolers succeed in their math and science classes.

Role: I have been tutoring since I was a highscooler myself and absolutely love helping kids “get it!” In addition to tutoring students, I also manage all the other amazing tutors that work for inGenius.

Passion: There’s nothing like having a student come in the office with a scowl saying, “I just don’t understand any of this stuff!” and then leaving an hour later saying, “That’s it? Really? Wow… that’s easy!” In addition to helping with math, I also make myself available as a mentor for students, fielding their questions about careers, colleges, and the challenges of high school.

Why Voca: I remember sitting in my apartment three months after graduating college explaining to my dad that I had zero idea of what I wanted to do with my life. I got lucky and fell into my current career and absolutely love it, but I know it would have served me well to start seriously questioning the “who am I” and “how does that connect to my vocation” questions earlier in life. I love everything that Voca is about – helping students figure out who they are, connecting students with adults in fields that interest them, and sharing fun and food along the way.

Tom Hogan

Workplace: For the last 10 years I have run a full service advertising agency that supports businesses by promoting them through TV, radio, outdoor, Bart, print and internet marketing. We also execute music licensing for film and TV representing American Idol, Charlie Brown, Aretha Franklin and an array of Fox shows and feature films. Prior to Hogan Media & Music, I spent the bulk of my career with the networks: ABC, CBS, Westwood One, Premier Networks and Clear Channel.

Role: I love to teach and I take great pride in creating a work atmosphere that inspires, creates a community and sense of ownership. My motto is that we spend a lot of time at work, it might as well be a place we enjoy building as a team. The ultimate underscore in our office is for me to empower people to feel needed, wanted, respected and feel like they make a difference.

Passion: My passion is for creative writing and the imagination, especially humor. I enjoy and find peace in the outdoors, especially skiing in the mountains, sailing and flying.

Why Voca?: I love to teach and find that giving always far exceeds receiving.

Wayne Cerullo

Workplace: I am an independent marketing consultant (whatever that means)! After working

with several large companies (IBM, Microsoft, Intel) and advertising agencies, I started a

marketing strategy group called Insighting Ideas ten years ago.

Role: I’ve always been curious and creative. As a result, I figure out how people make decisions
about buying products and create new ways for them to serve their customers (and community)
better.

Passion: I am passionate about helping people and companies achieve their potential. My goal
is to help companies find ways to do well by doing good — what I believe they were originally
created to do!

Why Voca: I graduated from college not knowing who I was, what I wanted to do, or even

knowing that work could be more than a job. I want to give students a better start than I had!

William Clayton

Workplace: I am a Project Manager for a startup web marketing firm.

Role: I manage numerous projects including the creation of web sites, working with designers, developers, and clients.

Passion: Serving with the talents God has given me and encouraging others to step out, take risks, and pursue their passions.

Why Voca: I wish Voca was available to me when I was in high school to help me understand myself better, so helping make it available to students now is an obvious decision.