About Us - Promising People

Our Mission

We believe every person should have the right to pursue a career that gives them financial stability, satisfaction, and peace of mind. With this belief in mind, we developed a hands-on, virtual reality learning approach so that anyone, anywhere, can learn the skills that will open doors to new employment and a brand-new future.

Our Vision

To be the premier solution for those struggling to find meaningful employment across the U.S. by delivering a self-paced learning system using virtual reality that will open doors to new employment opportunities.

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the technology promising people is built on

Promising People Enterprises, LLC

Parent company for the following Promising People ventures

Promising People Enterprises, LLC. comprises several companies formed to deliver learning technologies for trade skills using 3D video and VR systems and provide employment opportunities for qualifying students who have completed their certification through the Promising People program. Soon, we will establish centers to provide support for parolees.

Promising People, LLC

Promising People creates and delivers new learning technologies to develop pre-apprentice learning experiences for trade skills using the latest 3D video and Virtual Reality systems.

Promising People Placement, LLC

Promising People Placement provides employment for qualifying students that complete their certification through Promising People virtual coursework.

Promising People Missions, Inc.

Coming Soon! Promising People Missions will be a nonprofit entity that secures relationships with faith-based organizations to minister to those in need and provide support, counseling, and treatment.

Promising People Learning Centers, LLC

Coming Soon! Promising People Learning Centers will establish centers that provide learning solutions, accommodations, and parole management in areas not adequately serviced by current halfway houses.

Our Team
Board
Advisors
Partners

Les Cowie developed innovative learning systems in South Africa for people with little to no educational prospects. His expertise has been vital in creating the integral learning system for the Promising People platform. His passion has always been to open up educational opportunities and help people develop skills to find gainful employment so they can, in turn, help others.

Les Cowie

Co-Founder - President/CEO

Dave Clark is a visionary with extensive experience as a successful real estate and property development entrepreneur. His creative thinking and problem-solving are what helped make Promising People a reality. Through adversity, Dave shifted his perspective to see what was truly important in life, and now one of his pursuits is helping others find a new perspective. The other is fishing!

Dave Clark

Co-Founder

Mike Hughes company, Hughes Consulting Services, LLC, is dedicated to ensuring that their clients achieve their business and financial goals. Mike has worked with Promising People from their inception, committed in faith to the mission that every person deserves the chance at a promising future. When not crunching numbers, Mike finds his peace in his family, the sound of the sea, and the occasional good read.

Mike Hughes

Chief Financial Officer

Fred Stones is a self-motivated, out-of-the-box thinker who built a successful business career on the belief that making a personal connection to people must be grounded in logic, love, and the desire to solve problems. Fred loves a challenge both in work and play and has made it his goal to qualify for the US Senior Amateur Golf. We're rooting for you, Fred!

Fred Stones

Director of Sales & Marketing

As a trained expert in phonetics, Cristal Clark serves as an Academic Coach and Reading Intervention Specialist, helping students experience the joy of reading and learning. Cristal's skills, input, and feedback are crucial to ensuring every lesson in our virtual reality learning platform is accessible to all students, regardless of their reading level. Her dedication and passion for her craft earned her a 2018/2019 Teacher of the Year award.

CrIstal Clark

Director of Education & Literacy

Kathy Kozak is a natural-born leader with decades of management and mentoring experience under her belt. Her ability to empower and energize coworkers while keeping projects on task and under budget is her superpower. Kathy takes pride in helping others and sees each day as a new opportunity to learn and experience life to its fullest.

Kathy Kozak

Director of Participant Engagement

Hector Maffia's down-to-earth teaching and leadership skills make him the perfect choice for his role with Promising People. His creative innovation and many years as an electrical journeyman helped create the learning content for our first curriculum. Hector believes life is the best teacher, so be open to learning and experience it all!

Hector Maffia

Director of Learning Content

Jim adds dimension to the production team with decades of experience in video and 3D production. His talent is vital in bringing to life footage in full 3D in the virtual reality world. Jim's passion for fully capturing this earth's natural beauty in all its glory led him into the 3D space. His obsession is our success!

Jim McManus

Director of 3D Media and VR

Jamori Montgomery's expertise shines in his ability to tell stories through different mediums. Years in the military reflects in his discipline to his craft and his precision to detail. Whether it's on paper, on screen in black and white, or in color, Jamori believes life is about creating new ideas and sharing stories.

Jamori Montgomery

Director of Video Editing and Narration

Richard Ungaro has worked at the senior executive level with numerous national brands, including Burger King, Wendy's, and Starbucks Coffee. His extensive knowledge and experience in strategic business planning, growth, and development will ensure the success of the Promising People's mission. He believes cultivating employee skills through cooperation and innovation creates a synergistic approach to success in any business.

Richard Ungaro

Chairman of the Board

Les Cowie

Co-Founder - Board Member

Dave Clark

Co-Founder - Board Member

David Barker has worn many hats as a former economist for the Federal Reserve, an adjunct university professor, and current partner in Barker Companies. His advice and economic analysis of the impact of skilled trades in our economy and their role in our economic well-being is a crucial stepping stone in the success of our mission and vision for Promising People. In addition, he serves on the Governor of Iowa's Rural Empowerment Initiative.

David Barker

Board Member

Producer Robin Cowie has worked over three decades in the entertainment and gaming industry. His passion for new technology that intersects between the physical and digital world and expertise in content creation are essential in building Promising People's VR learning platform. Education and training were critical in his career, and Rob is grateful to the people who gave him a hand up. Now, he makes it his mission to play that part in helping others.

Robin Cowie

Board Member

Cristal Clark

Board Member

Jack A. Olmstead | President

Tri-City Electrical Contractors, Inc

Jack A. Olmstead has over 37 years of operations management experience in the electrical construction industry and was promoted to President of Tri-City Electrical Contractors, Inc. in January 2001. During the years 2000 and 2003 Mr. Olmstead was one of 51 Presidents in the U.S. for Encompass Services, a publicly held company with $3.7B in revenue. In February 2003 Mr. Olmstead and the former CFO lead the effort to take the company private again. Mr. Olmstead joined the team in 1995 as the Tampa Division Manager with proven expertise in the area of electrical construction management, having been responsible for the successful completion of many multi-million dollar projects. Mr. Olmstead manages 250 million dollars of revenue with 4 offices in Florida and a workforce of over 800 employee-owners.

Steve Cona III | President & CEO

Associated Builders and Contractors Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

Steve Cona III serves as the President & CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors Florida Gulf Coast Chapter. He also served as Vice-Chair of the Hillsborough County School Board. He was elected to the Hillsborough County School Board, representing District 1, in 2018. He also served as a Chairman of Hillsborough Community College District Board of Trustees and serves on the advisory board for Visit Tampa Bay. Mr. Cona received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Florida.

Carlyle I. Holder | President

Correctional Management & Communications Group, LLC

Carlyle is a proven strategic and innovative executive leader with a career spanning 37 years in Criminal Justice. Over his 27 plus years of distinguished service with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, he served 23 of those years as a supervisor, manager, and executive. Mr. Holder worked at every security level to include the BOP’s only Deportation Center. In addition, he was a Chief Executive Officer (Warden) for 12 years, managing the largest Pre-trial and co-managing the most extensive Correctional Complex facilities in the BOP.

Joel Bomgar | Founder

BOMGAR CORPORATION, NOW BEYONDTRUST

Joel Bomgar is an entrepreneur and technology executive. He currently serves as State Representative in the Mississippi legislature. Joel is the Founder of Bomgar Corporation, now BeyondTrust, the global leader in remote support technology and Privileged Access Management (PAM), with more than 20,000 customers, including 78 of the fortune 100 and offices worldwide. In addition, Joel is the Honorary Chairman of the Hazlitt Coalition of Young Americans for Liberty and the Founder of Out of Last Place Institute in Mississippi. Before coming on board in this formal capacity, Joel served as an advisor and board member of Próspera.

Don Pittman | Retired Chief Probation Supervisor

BOARD MEMBER, FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

Before retiring, Don spent over 40 years in the management and supervision of programs and operations as the Chief Probation Supervisor for the Orange County Department of Corrections in Florida. Don currently serves as a board member for the Florida Association of Community Corrections. He serves on the board because of his passion to reduce recidivism. The goals of the FACC are to encourage communication and cooperation among agencies and to initiate and support legislation that advances the efforts of prevention, reduction, and deterrence of criminal and delinquent behavior.

Sophia Moshasha | Vice-President

DC CHAPTER THE VR/AR ASSOCIATION

Sophia’s mission is to accelerate the adoption of immersive & emerging technology across all industry sectors. Her ability to effectively communicate complex technologies into feasible solutions with a clear value and return creates unique opportunities for entities to create significant impact utilizing emerging technology. Additionally, she’s sought for her ability to influence global networks as an evangelist in propagating VR and AR technology through her leadership at the VR/AR Association and features on networks such as Forbes, ABC, and CGTN.

Phil Alfaro | CEO

Rebound Employment

Phil is a career entrepreneur. At NCR, he was awarded the Chairman’s Award for the top salesperson in the Computer Systems Division. Later he was in the founding team of five Venture Capital funded startups. Next, he launched an Internet Marketing company in his second language, Spanish. Upon returning to the U.S. he translates VirtualiaNet into English for the Rebound market and leads the marketing and training initiatives.

Pascal Rathle | Associate

Council for Inclusive Capitalism

Pascal Rathle is an Associate for the Council for Inclusive Capitalism. He is a Founding Curator and Deputy Community Champion (SE-USA) of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community. Pascal founded a nonprofit in Jacksonville to amplify youth civic engagements and the Neurolaw Society at the University of Pennsylvania. Pascal is a Climate Project Reality Leader, Salzburg Global Fellow, AEI Millennial Leadership Network Fellow, and formerly a CSPC Presidential Fellow, European Forum Alpbach Delegate, Caravan for Democracy Delegate, Global Baku Forum Delegate, Global Peace Chain Delegate, Ronald Reagan Fellow, Graduate Teaching Assistant, and Bundesliga trialist. Pascal has served as a City Year AmeriCorps and Policy Assistant in the City of Jacksonville Office of the Mayor. He holds an ML from Penn Carey Law School, MS in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania, Executive Certificate from Harvard Kennedy School, and was a NCAA Division I student-athlete.

Dr. Jose Pelayo | CEO

Provider Network Solutions

Dr. Jose Pelayo, DC, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and PNS Board Member, is an entrepreneurial executive with a successful history of developing and operationalizing innovative business models, organizational structures, and strategic plans in the healthcare industry. He has nearly three decades of experience across several areas within the healthcare environment, focusing on the sectors of Practice Management, Management Service Organizations (MSOs), Medicare Advantage Organizations, and Third-Party Administration.

Dr. Thinh H. Tran | President & COO

Provider Network Solutions

Thinh H. Tran, MD, MBA, President and Chief Operating Officer of PNS, is a seasoned physician and healthcare executive with academic, clinical, and payer expertise. Dr. Tran focuses his efforts on system design, process improvement, and innovation within the rapidly changing healthcare climate in the US and globally. Dr. Tran led a comprehensive network of three hospitals, 30+ outpatient facilities, and 1,200+ physicians and scientists across a four-county area as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Clinical Officer for the University of Miami Health System (UHealth). He enjoys strong relationships with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Jackson Health System.

Dr. Glenn Terry, M.D. | Founder

GARM Clinic

Dr. Terry is a U.S. Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and the founder of the GARM Clinic on the Island of Roatan, who brings global recognition from other Orthopedic Surgeons, elite athletes, and patients from all walks of life. Dr. Terry is recognized as one of the pioneers in the orthopedic field of Sports Medicine, highly respected for his contributions to understanding the examination, the function, and innovative surgical repairs of the anatomy of the knee and shoulder.

Heather Terry, M.S. | Co-Founder & CEO

Garm Clinic

Heather Terry, M.S. is the co-founder and CEO of the GARM Clinic on the Island of Roatán. With a passion for science, education, and medical sales, Mrs. Terry brings an array of skills that have contributed to the success of the GARM Clinic. Driven by innovation and excellence, she takes pride in helping to provide groundbreaking treatment protocols which address the challenges offered by certain chronic disease states. Her educational background includes a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Biology from Texas Tech University and a Bachelor of Science in Education and Biology from Texas Tech University. Mrs. Terry is also a Certified Clinical Thermographer. Mrs. Terry has taught Advanced Placement Biology courses at the high school level in Texas and Georgia, as well as courses such as Human Anatomy & Physiology for the Allied Health Care Professional at Darton College in Georgia.

Dr. Samuel P. Martin, MD, FACS | Founder & Medical Director

Vascular Vein Centers

Dr. Samuel P. Martin, MD, FACS is the founder and medical director of Vascular Vein Centers, with locations in Orlando, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, The Villages, and Davenport. He is board-certified in general and vascular surgery and received certification from the American Board of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine in 2008. Dr. Martin is registered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, which recognizes special qualifications to interpret venous and arterial ultrasound studies. In addition, he has been certified by the American Board of Wound Management, which recognizes expertise in treating venous ulcers and other wounds. Dr. Martin comes from a family of educators and has always had a passion to make education relevant to the student, especially those with challenging backgrounds or social circumstances.

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Promising People Enterprises, LLC

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