Values Based Life

Chonnettia Jones, Ph.D., is President and Executive Director of Addgene, a nonprofit biorepository committed to accelerating scientific discovery and innovation by providing researchers worldwide with expertly curated, high-quality biological materials and educational resources that enable reproducible and efficient research. A scientist by training, Chonnettia has built a career at the intersection of research, strategy, and public good. She has held senior leadership roles across mission-driven organizations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom that support world-class science and health research. At Michael Smith Health Research BC, she led strategic initiatives and funding programs designed to translate research excellence into measurable health impact across British Columbia. Previously, at the Wellcome Trust, she led the evaluation of large-scale global health research investments. At the Janelia Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, she managed an international collaborative program that developed innovative tools to address complex challenges in biomedical research. Chonnettia holds a PhD in biochemistry, cell, and developmental biology from Emory University. She serves on a number of international science and technology advisory boards and is an outspoken advocate for the ways in which research, research systems and research culture can be made more effective, equitable and inclusive.

--

This episode is part of a new chapter of the Values Based Life podcast, the "Mentor Series." The Mentor Series features executives and other leaders from organizations that have a proven track record of operating in alignment with their mission, vision, purpose and values. By doing this they have created truly engaging cultures - environments where people love to work. The purpose of the Mentor Series is to highlight these committed organizations and share their stories with other leaders so everyone can see the huge benefits of being a Values Based Organization. We hope you enjoy listening to the Mentor Series episodes as much as I have enjoyed being in amazing conversations with these remarkable leaders.

David Cozzens is the founder of Train With Dave, one of the most established and highest-volume personal training companies in the nation, earning industry awards for four consecutive years.

A former U.S. Army Sergeant with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology, Dave blends real-world execution with evidence-based training and behavioral psychology.

After years of seeing discipline-heavy and overly restrictive approaches fail, he developed a systems-based method focused on removing friction from healthy habits and adding friction to unhealthy ones.

His approach allows people to eat foods they enjoy, train in ways they like, and achieve sustainable results.

Nate Littlewood is the founder of Future Ready CFO, where he supports early-stage, purpose-led founders in the eCommerce and CPG space by bringing clarity to their numbers and helping them use financial data to make better decisions around marketing budgets, product portfolio, sales channel focus, team, and overall business strategy.

At Future Ready CFO, the mission is to empower purpose-driven founders with the tools, strategies, and insights they need to take control of their finances—without compromising their vision for a better world—while simplifying finances and guiding founders through cash flow challenges, growth, and long-term financial sustainability.

He started his own eCommerce brand in 2017, bootstrapping it from a $40K Kickstarter campaign into a 7-figure business, selling millions of dollars of product through Amazon, Shopify, and Wholesale. He has an MBA and spent nine years at a global investment bank prior to entrepreneurship. Nate is also a Lead Mentor for Food Future Co in New York and an Advisor for the Startmate Program in Australia, where he has worked with dozens of early-stage founders to help prepare them for their next investment round.

You can learn more about Nate or get in touch via his website, www.futurereadycfo.com or on LinkedIn.

Matt Wunzin, BS, BME (fka Matt Wunderle), is from Cleveland, OH, with nearly 20 years of experience within the medical device industry.

He has a formal education in Biomedical Engineering with a focus in biomechanics and applied mathematics and has been involved in all major areas of medical device product design and development, including early stage feasibility/prototyping, structured systems engineering, verification and validation, manufacturing and process engineering, and engineering management.

Matt began his career as an engineering co-op at Cleveland Medical Devices (CleveMed) in 2007, where his early design work on the patented SleepView device allowed this small wearable to gather sleep data in the comfort of patients' own homes, helping diagnose sleep disorders like sleep apnea.

After graduating in 2010, he became CleveMed's first manufacturing engineer, developing fixturing and manufacturing processes for the SleepView device and other sleep diagnostic products.

Matt later held engineering positions at US Endoscopy (now Steris Endoscopy) and Philips Healthcare before joining SPR Therapeutics Inc. in 2016 as their first design engineer to lead development efforts, ultimately launching their flagship product in 2018, the SPRINT PNS System, a wearable peripheral nerve stimulator device used for pain management that has seen over 50,000 minimally invasive implants.

In 2024, Matt started his own engineering consulting business, Five Design & Development, LLC, supporting technical development efforts within the rapidly growing medical device community in Northeast Ohio.

--

This episode is part of a new chapter of the Values Based Life podcast, the "Mentor Series." The Mentor Series features executives and other leaders from organizations that have a proven track record of operating in alignment with their mission, vision, purpose and values. By doing this they have created truly engaging cultures - environments where people love to work. The purpose of the Mentor Series is to highlight these committed organizations and share their stories with other leaders so everyone can see the huge benefits of being a Values Based Organization. We hope you enjoy listening to the Mentor Series episodes as much as I have enjoyed being in amazing conversations with these remarkable leaders.

Jason Lapensee is the Chief Operating Officer at Stella Mental Health, where he leads the development and expansion of a national clinic network delivering fully integrated mental health care. In this role, Jason oversees scalable and sustainable operations that combine evidence-based therapies with innovative treatment modalities, with a focus on improving patient access, experience, and outcomes nationwide.

With a diverse career spanning senior leadership roles at Gap, Starbucks, and Apple, Jason transitioned into healthcare more than a decade ago, bringing a strong operational and consumer-centered lens to the industry. He went on to successfully build one of Canada's largest dental service organizations and later led the growth of a prominent network of mental health clinics, culminating in their acquisition by Stella Mental Health.

Jason's unique cross-industry expertise, paired with a deep commitment to accessible, high-quality care, continues to drive his mission to modernize and scale mental health services across the U.S.

--

This episode is part of a new chapter of the Values Based Life podcast, the "Mentor Series." The Mentor Series features executives and other leaders from organizations that have a proven track record of operating in alignment with their mission, vision, purpose and values. By doing this they have created truly engaging cultures - environments where people love to work. The purpose of the Mentor Series is to highlight these committed organizations and share their stories with other leaders so everyone can see the huge benefits of being a Values Based Organization. We hope you enjoy listening to the Mentor Series episodes as much as I have enjoyed being in amazing conversations with these remarkable leaders.

Bradley Scott Phillips is the Founder of Prestige Nationwide, LLC and has worked with AIS, the company he considers home, since the inception of his company.

Born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, he began his sales career at Lexmark International. After a successful tenure there, he transitioned to medical devices with Stryker Surgical, where he was named to President's Council and had tremendous success as a sales representative in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He later moved back to Lexington, Kentucky with his wife, Carmel, and their two small children to be closer to family and work for Medtronic Neuromodulation. After winning President's Club, he was promoted to Global Strategy Manager and started the Emerging Leaders Program for young physicians.

After separating from Medtronic, he started his LLC, Prestige Nationwide, and contracted with multiple companies, including AIS, Flowonix, and several other medical device companies. He currently resides in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina with his wife, Carmel, and their two schnauzers, Gandalf the standard and Elsa the mini. He looks forward to weekends when his two children, Collin (21) and Josie (19), return home from Clemson University to spend time with Mom and Dad.

--

This episode is part of a new chapter of the Values Based Life podcast, the "Mentor Series." The Mentor Series features executives and other leaders from organizations that have a proven track record of operating in alignment with their mission, vision, purpose and values. By doing this they have created truly engaging cultures - environments where people love to work. The purpose of the Mentor Series is to highlight these committed organizations and share their stories with other leaders so everyone can see the huge benefits of being a Values Based Organization. We hope you enjoy listening to the Mentor Series episodes as much as I have enjoyed being in amazing conversations with these remarkable leaders.

Dr. Nelva Lee is the Founder and CEO of Concrete Build Financing and a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in healthcare and vocational education. She previously served as CEO of a vocational school for two decades and has more than 10 years of experience in academia as an adjunct professor at various universities.

Appointed by Governor Kemp to the Georgia Department of Community Health, Dr. Lee has been active in public service, including serving as Vice Chairman of the Henry County Pregnancy Resource Center (Bridge Wellness South), running as a Republican candidate for State Senate in District 17, and currently campaigning for Georgia Superintendent of Schools.

An author of Christian-based books including Stay and Fight and Be the Super Hero of Your Story, Dr. Lee is also active in her church and community. A former homeschool mom and substitute teacher, she has been married to her husband Donnie for 25 years and is a mother of three.

Learn more at drnelvalee.com.

Mark Bernardini is a dynamic sales leader with over two decades of experience in the medical device industry.

As President of Sales at Precision Medical Products, he drives revenue growth, fosters key client relationships, prioritizes a company culture that values strong business ethics, hard work, innovation, and celebrating success.

Outside of work, Mark enjoys spending time with friends and family outdoors—whether hitting the slopes in Tahoe, enjoying mountain bike trails in the Sierra Nevada foothills, perfecting his swing on the golf course, or going on weekend walks with his wife. Happily married for 20 years, he is a dedicated family man and proud father to three sons and two daughters, balancing professional success with quality time spent creating lasting memories with loved ones.

This episode is part of a new chapter of the Values Based Life podcast, the "Mentor Series." The Mentor Series features executives and other leaders from organizations that have a proven track record of operating in alignment with their mission, vision, purpose and values. By doing this they have created truly engaging cultures - environments where people love to work. The purpose of the Mentor Series is to highlight these committed organizations and share their stories with other leaders so everyone can see the huge benefits of being a Values Based Organization. We hope you enjoy listening to the Mentor Series episodes as much as I have enjoyed being in amazing conversations with these remarkable leaders.

With over 40 years of experience in youth sports, Gary Thrapp is the owner of Beyond The Baseline, a premier basketball and volleyball event center in Davenport, Iowa.

He has facilitated more than 50,000 games at his facility, fostering a supportive environment for young athletes. Gary's work focuses on leadership development, community engagement, and creating equitable opportunities for youth in sports.

As a published author and public speaker, Gary provides actionable strategies to reduce youth violence, enhance coaching, and promote personal growth through sports.

His non-profit, QuadCitiesYouthSportsFoundation, currently offers free competitive programs to over 250 children, emphasizing character development and life skills.

Gary's mission is to inspire communities to prioritize the holistic well-being of young athletes.

Learn more on his website -- garythrapp.com -- or connect on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/gary-the-youth-sports-guy-thrapp-2636bb72.

​​David Meltzer is the Chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute and formerly served as CEO of the renowned Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment agency, which was the inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire. He is a globally recognized entrepreneur, investor, and top business coach. Variety Magazine has recognized him as their Sports Humanitarian of the Year and has been awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. As Executive Producer of the Apple TV series 2 Minute Drill and Office Hours, as well as Entrepreneur's #1 digital business show, Elevator Pitch, David brings unmatched insights to audiences worldwide. His journey has been featured in books, movies, and TV, including World's Greatest Motivators, Think and Grow Rich, and Netflix's Beyond the Secret. His life's mission is to empower OVER 1 BILLION people to be happy! This simple yet powerful mission has led him on an incredible journey to provide one thing… VALUE. In all his content, and communication that's exactly what you'll receive. -- This episode is part of a new chapter of the Values Based Life podcast, the "Mentor Series." The Mentor Series features executives and other leaders from organizations that have a proven track record of operating in alignment with their mission, vision, purpose and values. By doing this they have created truly engaging cultures - environments where people love to work. The purpose of the Mentor Series is to highlight these committed organizations and share their stories with other leaders so everyone can see the huge benefits of being a Values Based Organization. We hope you enjoy listening to the Mentor Series episodes as much as I have enjoyed being in amazing conversations with these remarkable leaders.