Global Business Manager

• Apr 2021 - Present

Founding Member

• Jul 2021 - Present

The Trauma Aware Mindfulness Collective is comprised of diverse practitioners dedicated to teaching Mindfulness through a Trauma Sensitive lens. Each practitioner brings a unique approach and all have co-facilitated global Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness trainings. Each Collective Member can tailor trainings based on specific population needs. The Trauma Aware Mindfulness Collective is comprised of diverse practitioners dedicated to teaching Mindfulness through a Trauma Sensitive lens. Each practitioner brings a unique approach and all have co-facilitated global Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness trainings. Each Collective Member can tailor trainings based on specific population needs.

Facilitator

• Apr 2017 - Dec 2020

I facilitated the Guiding Rage Into Power (GRIP) Program, a year-long Mindfulness/Restorative Justice-based violence prevention program, at two facilities: Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, CA + Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, CA. GRIP has proven itself one of the most impactful programs for incarcerated people in California, with 99.7% of released graduates never returning to prison. I facilitated the Guiding Rage Into Power (GRIP) Program, a year-long Mindfulness/Restorative Justice-based violence prevention program, at two facilities: Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, CA + Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, CA. GRIP has proven itself one of the most impactful programs for incarcerated people in California, with 99.7% of released graduates never returning to prison.

Teacher

• Sep 2016 - Jul 2019

I taught and facilitated a variety of courses to men and women incarcerated at Santa Rita and Glenn Dyer jails in Dublin and Oakland, CA. I specialized in therapeutic programs, mindfulness instruction and climate change/sustainability. Additionally, I trained and served as a Teacher Coach for teachers who requested support or mentorship. I taught and facilitated a variety of courses to men and women incarcerated at Santa Rita and Glenn Dyer jails in Dublin and Oakland, CA. I specialized in therapeutic programs, mindfulness instruction and climate change/sustainability. Additionally, I trained and served as a Teacher Coach for teachers who requested support or mentorship.

Mindfulness Instructor

• Jul 2016 - Sep 2016

I supported a cohort of 15 formerly incarcerated men and women with mindfulness training during their summer semester of college-preparatory classes at Chabot College in Hayward, CA. I supported a cohort of 15 formerly incarcerated men and women with mindfulness training during their summer semester of college-preparatory classes at Chabot College in Hayward, CA.

Teacher

• Nov 2015 - May 2016

I taught incarcerated students mindfulness and human development aimed at more effective stress management, impulse control and empathy building. In addition, I facilitated a Restorative Justice Healing Circle, with a focus on community building and accountability. I taught incarcerated students mindfulness and human development aimed at more effective stress management, impulse control and empathy building. In addition, I facilitated a Restorative Justice Healing Circle, with a focus on community building and accountability.

Contractor

• Mar 2015 - Jul 2015

I maintained ownership of various duties associated with successful order-fulfillment, including delivery coordination and assignment, real-time customer communication and problem-solving, on-boarding new deliverers, deliverer payouts, record keeping and data entry. I also developed a personalized, customer-facing "challenge system" that incorporated elements of fitness, nutrition and mindfulness. I maintained ownership of various duties associated with successful order-fulfillment, including delivery coordination and assignment, real-time customer communication and problem-solving, on-boarding new deliverers, deliverer payouts, record keeping and data entry. I also developed a personalized, customer-facing "challenge system" that incorporated elements of fitness, nutrition and mindfulness.

English Teacher

• 2013 - 2014

I returned to Japan and built my private teaching practice from scratch, acquiring students from positive references, networking and online advertising. Within a year, I had accumulated over 20 regular students, with class sizes ranging from individual lessons to groups of four. I designed curricula and taught both children and adults, of all skill levels, for both qualifying standardized test results and general/travel English language proficiency. Finally, I maintained composure when, unlike the children, the adult students failed to complete their homework (which was often).

Translator, Event Staff

• Jun 2013 - Aug 2013

I had a short-term contract to assist in the facilitation of the 2013 Shorinji Kempo World Taikai and the following branch masters' instructional seminars. I translated two extended written PowerPoint presentations from Japanese to English, then during the tournament itself and the following seminars, I acted as a free translator for a variety of speeches, interviews and instructional seminars. Notably, I befriended some Russian participants who confessed to me that the "Russian Reversal," often attributed to the much-celebrated former Soviet comedian Yakov Smirnoff, was not considered humorous or in good taste in Russia...

English Teacher

• Apr 2010 - Apr 2012

I moved to Japan and taught English to a variety of age levels (preschool to advanced ages), skill levels (very beginner to very proficient) and class sizes (individuals to classes of over 20 students). I also trained two other teachers, and participated in on-the-ground advertising that assisted in the acquisition of new students and school contracts. Perhaps most impressively, despite being of lean stature, I successfully portrayed Santa on no less than five occasions (the most harrowing of which was at a private function with a number of suspicious, false-beard grab-happy children...Christmas Cheer, however, was not lost).

Food and Beverage Associate

• Aug 2008 - Jun 2009

I worked at what was formerly the Hyatt of Grand Cayman, as a server and bartender at their five-star restaurant, the beach bar and at various functions. I excelled at customer service in a high-pressure, results oriented environment, and was entrusted with opening/closing the beach bar and handling cash flow and tip-out for the other bartenders. I also made the mistake of purchasing a number of canned goods, in good faith, for a hurricane that would have justified said purchase, only to have to eat them all during my final two weeks on island - I no longer eat canned tuna or corn.

Floor Manager

• Sep 2007 - Jan 2008

I started as a server and bartender, then was moved up to A-1 (floor manager) within a month. I was trusted with opening and closing the restaurant, customer service and complaints, handling cash and credit transactions and training new servers and bartenders. Finally, I engaged in a number of profound cultural exchanges - perhaps the most notable of which involved a forgiving elderly couple, who explained to me very patiently that the expression "rooting for" has a considerably different meaning in colloquial Australian English (after, as it so happened, a particularly unfortunate usage on my part).

Bartender

• Apr 2007 - Sep 2007

I started as security/a barback, then was moved up to bartender within two months. I served a variety of drinks and handled numerous transactions in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment, while also judging the state of sobriety of the club's patrons. Perhaps not surprisingly, I found that they often weren't sober. I started as security/a barback, then was moved up to bartender within two months. I served a variety of drinks and handled numerous transactions in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment, while also judging the state of sobriety of the club's patrons. Perhaps not surprisingly, I found that they often weren't sober.

Intern

• Jul 2006 - Aug 2006

I was responsible for the research and compiling of three country reports (Japan, South Korea and the Phillipines) to be used for potential foreign market entry. I also quickly discovered the rather large difference between clubbing shirts (which made up the majority of my limited button-up wardrobe at the time) and business-appropriate dress shirts, resulting in a number of sniggers from my coworkers, and the occasional high-five. I was responsible for the research and compiling of three country reports (Japan, South Korea and the Phillipines) to be used for potential foreign market entry. I also quickly discovered the rather large difference between clubbing shirts (which made up the majority of my limited button-up wardrobe at the time) and business-appropriate dress shirts, resulting in a number of sniggers from my coworkers, and the occasional high-five.

Bellhop

• May 2003 - Sep 2005

For three consecutive summers following high school, I worked at The Weekapaug Inn resort. My first year I worked as a dish washer/prep chef, followed by two summers as a bellhop. I gained considerable knowledge of customer service, hotel management and just plain hard work. Notably, I also bought my first guitar there (a used Yamaha from a sous chef named Mike), after which I immediately attempted to learn and sing "Wonderwall," much to the despair of the rest of the dorm. For three consecutive summers following high school, I worked at The Weekapaug Inn resort. My first year I worked as a dish washer/prep chef, followed by two summers as a bellhop. I gained considerable knowledge of customer service, hotel management and just plain hard work. Notably, I also bought my first guitar there (a used Yamaha from a sous chef named Mike), after which I immediately attempted to learn and sing "Wonderwall," much to the despair of the rest of the dorm.

Tae Kwon Do Instructor

• Aug 2001 - May 2003

From the time I was a Brown Belt, Master Jae Kim hired me to help teach three children's classes (ranging from ages 3 to 15, and sizes 8 to 15 students), a day, three to four days per week. Once I became a Black Belt, I also led some adult classes (sizes ranging from 6 to 12 students). Master Kim paid me seven dollars per hour - I am grateful to say that I currently make more than that. From the time I was a Brown Belt, Master Jae Kim hired me to help teach three children's classes (ranging from ages 3 to 15, and sizes 8 to 15 students), a day, three to four days per week. Once I became a Black Belt, I also led some adult classes (sizes ranging from 6 to 12 students). Master Kim paid me seven dollars per hour - I am grateful to say that I currently make more than that.