Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Perry.
Hi Wendy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Maryland. My parents divorced when I was 8 years old. I went to college at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, graduated with a degree in Nursing, and was commissioned in the US Army. My mother passed away at the age of 47 in 1995.
I got married in 1998, my husband was also Active Duty Army. I had my first daughter in 1999, after having a miscarriage in 1998, and had my second daughter in 2002. My father passed away in 2004. I completed my Master’s degree in Health Services Leadership and Management at the University of Maryland in 2007. I served 22 years in the Army Nurse Corps and retired in 2015.
I worked at the Charlie Norwood VA Hospital for two years and then joined my husband full-time in our Leadership Development, Training, and Coaching Consultant business in 2017. I wrote my first book in 2017 and also became a Certified Executive Coach. I have since served on several Boards for local and civic organizations and I currently serve as the Board Chair for the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.
My husband and I are on the Speaker Team for Family Life and speak across the country at The Weekend to Remember Marriage Conference. We also host a weekly virtual Marriage Ministry called The Marriage Shop via Facebook and YouTube.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would not say the road has been smooth. I was molested at the age of 5 by a neighbor’s teenage son. As I mentioned, I lost my Mother when I was 24 and my father when I was 33.
I endured racism and sexism in the workplace, although, I would say, not overtly. I have had some health challenges, including several years of Chronic Depression.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about KATALIS?
I am the Principal Owner and served as the CEO from 2017-2020. Our mission: To equip leaders with the confidence, awareness, and relationship-building skill required to transform organizational culture and unleash the full potential of the people that make business possible.
You can find more info on our website or social media. www.connectmovegrow.com or @KATALIS706.
We are known for Leadership Development. What sets us apart, other than being women-owned, and veteran-owned, is the special partnership that my husband and I have. It allows us to train together, and speak together.
We want to partner with anyone who wants to create a thriving workplace culture with leaders who see them, hear them, understand them, and support them. We work with individuals and teams from CEOs to the front line.
If you’re ready, we’re ready!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
We will continue to scale by adding coaches and trainers to our team. Although we will gradually taper our involvement, we will always serve on some level.
Contact Info:
- Website: connectmovegrow.com
- Instagram: @KATALIS706 and @the.marriageshop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katalis706 and https://www.facebook.com/themarriageshop
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-m-perry-048b51131/
Image Credits
Crystal Smith, Pamela Williams, and Anthony Carlie
