Meet The Co-Hosts
Joe Ayler
Co-Host
Joe Ayler
President – CEO
Tar Heel Construction Group LLC
Joe Ayler was born in Indianapolis, IN and moved to Maryland in 1985 residing in Reisterstown before settling in Harford County in 1992. He is a 1997 graduate of C. Milton Wright High School and a 2002 graduate of Salisbury University (B.S. Biology). Out of college Joe briefly worked for the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health participating in stem cell lab research. He finally found himself working in the home improvement industry where he mastered his trade. After working as a sub-contractor for ten years, Tar Heel Construction Group LLC was formed in 2014. THCG focuses on residential/commercial roofing and exteriors and services Harford and Baltimore Counties. Joe is acting President and remains very active in the day-to-day operations of the company. THCG is continuously placing an emphasis on community involvement. Some of their favorite organizations are HFH, Boys and Girls Clubs of Harford and Cecil, Upper Chesapeake Healthcare Foundation, MD Center for the Arts, and Ripken Stadium. Joe currently sits on the board of directors for the Greater Maryland BBB, Greater Bel Air Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Harford County, and Harford Family House. Joe is happily married to his best friend, Julie Culp-Ayler. Together they have two children, Blake and Isabelle. With the support of his family Joe is certain THCG will continue to do great things.
Episodes:
Wendy Beck
Co-Host
Wendy Beck
Founder and Executive Director
Wendy Beck is the Founder and Executive Director of Rage Against Addiction, located in Harford County, Maryland. The organization was founded based on the understanding that no family is immune to addiction and that it can affect the whole family as well. Recovery may start with an addicted loved one, but the healing of the entire family is equally as important. The Rage programs include recovery housing for women, funding initiatives, counselor-led kids discussions, and care packages for new mothers in recovery. “I wanted us to follow the entire family on the road to recovery,” says Wendy.
Her experience with addiction started out of necessity as she tried to understand and help with the struggles that some of her closest family members were going through. She devotes her time and energy by promoting addiction education to the families in and around Maryland and through Rage’s multiple social media platforms. She also works closely with other addiction advocacy groups to combine strengths in advancing awareness for drug addiction and helping erase the stigma surrounding it.
Wendy was celebrated at the 2016 Harford County’s Most Beautiful People Awards, hosted by County Executive Barry Glassman and the Harford County Department of Human Services. She received a Shining Light Award which recognizes individuals who shine a light of awareness on serious issues within the county. She was also a nominee for the county’s Most Beautiful People Award.
She lives in Harford County, Maryland, and is the author of Christmas Angel, a children’s book about grief after the loss of a loved one. This story was lovingly written in memory of her own daughter Kelsea who lost her battle with addiction on December 25, 2015. Christmas Angel
Episodes:
Julia Chang
Co-Host
She hosts online and in-person workshops on various topics, such as limiting beliefs, finding your why and goal setting.
She uses her unique combination of mindset coaching, Taekwondo and pageant experiences to connect with podcast guests and clients.
Episodes:
Jennifer Hathaway
Co-Host
Dani Pettrey
Co-Host
Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today).
She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland.
Instagram: @authordanipettrey
Paige Mullhausen
Co-Host
Owner
The values and philosophies behind Our Village Wellness Center have been a mission of mine my whole life. For as long as I can remember, my core values always included being kind, treating people the way I want to be treated, loving unconditionally.
Beginning at a young age, I have always had a strong passion for teaching, coaching field hockey and basketball, fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis, leading children’s ministries, and finding ways for people to feel good about themselves.
One of my first experiences learning discipline and drive was playing field hockey. As an All-American athlete, I was the nation’s third-highest scorer during college. I then went on to coach field hockey for fifteen years, nine of which were at the high school level. I developed a true passion for coaching, motivating, and listening to my players. I also did the same for parents and fellow coaches.
I graduated from college with a dual degree in Special Education and Child Development. I am a Wellness Advisor and have my certifications as a Life Coach, Mental Health Awareness, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I taught preschool special education for six years, became Director of a local childcare center, and eventually started my first business in 1999. I opened a daycare center where preschool and nursery school were provided. I created a curriculum where building self-esteem, character, and kindness was integrated every single day.
I am also currently a life coach assisting adolescence and women. Please see the life coach section of this website.
While owning and operating a business, coaching, and leading organizations, I also found myself in many conversations of hurt, worry, and concern for their children, themselves, and the world around us. It overwhelmed me knowing there are not many resources available for our community to turn to. I felt a strong drive to be a part of something bigger where I can reach more people to educate and let them know they are not alone!!
I started my first event called “A Girls Festival”. It focused on self-defense against bullies, self-worth, and identification of anxiety and depression. It was an amazing night of GIRL POWER for 5th grade – 12th grade females. The success of this event led to many other sold-out events, all in which discussed the realities of anxiety, depression, stress, and more importantly, how to overcome them.
The real heart of Our Village Wellness Center is to reach as many people as we can to help them live their best lives! This is my passion, my lifetime mission, and a dream come true!
Colleen Curran
Co-Host
Colleen Curran
Owner
Graduate from John Carroll School in Bel Air, MD. and Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. where she played Division I Lacrosse on Scholarship. Earned Masters and Doctorate degrees in Acupuncture from Maryland University of Integrative Health (formerly Tai Sophia Institute in Laurel, MD.). Has had private acupuncture practice, Zen Path Wellness in Fallston, MD. for over ten years and also serves as the Main Clinician and Supervisor of Doctorate Externships at Kaufman Cancer Center at UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. Developed and Trademarked Acuseed Therapy®️ Acupressure to serve oncology patients and other patient populations that are contraindicated to be needled. Musician in the Baltimore music scene since 2006 in varying bands, most notably The Firecrackers, Evokatones, MSH and currently The Soularites having opened for Third World, Barrington Levy, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Luciano, Yellowman and others in the reggae/ska world scene.
Episodes:
Derek Pentz
Co-Host
Derek Pentz, AKA the Drag Rockstar Zenobia Darling, is a famed performing artist and painter known for blurring the lines between visual and performing art.
Derek Pentz – Portfolio of Works (zenobiadarlingcreative.com)
Alicia Hamilton
Co-Host
Alicia is Executive Director and Co-founder of Found in Faith Ministries, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving Harford County, MD. Once a social service recipient, Alicia now Vice Chairs the Department of Social Services Advisory Board and is an expert in Family and Human Services. With nearly 10 years of professional experience as a Towson University Alumni and twenty years of lived experience as a single mother, Alicia is intimately familiar with the needs and the struggles of the population she now serves.
Additionally, Alicia is the Co-founder and CEO of Social Progress Solutions (SPS), a start-up company with the mission of advancing human potential, one step at a time. In partnership with Found in Faith, Social Progress Solutions is developing new and innovative ways to help disadvantaged people reach their goals including projects like the Path to Success software and the “Next Steps Approach” to service provision. To supplement this effort, SPS is currently building an online directory of local services called Harford Helps to link people who want to donate, volunteer, or need resources to the organizations they’re looking for.
Alicia is a graduate of the 2018 Harford Leadership Academy, the 2019 Towson Leadership Program for Women and currently sits on The Hope Center of Maryland Advisory Counsel. She has been invited to speak to organizations across Harford County including the Women’s Giving Circle, the AARP Harford County Chapter, and the Harford Cable Network MagaScene. Most recently, Alicia and her partner won $20,000 in the 2021 United Way Changemaker Challenge to develop the revolutionary Path to Success software.
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