Meet Your Coaches
Angie M. Callen, CPRW, CPCC
Founder and Principal
I am a creative, critical, and strategic thinker, and business sense and marketing strategy come naturally to me. I thrive in situations that require a mix of logic, creativity, communication, and action, and I put all of this to your use as we work together to make a plan for your future.
I truly believe that everyone deserves to be happy in their careers, even though we live in a society that accepts mediocrity. I’m here to help you rise above this norm, recover from life and career situations that have broken your confidence, and help you see your true worth, personally and professionally.
I founded Career Benders because I wanted to help people grow into their full potential, whether it’s just a new job, growing into a leadership position, or taking the exciting step to explore entrepreneurship; I want you to be the next person to break the mold.
Originally from Pittsburgh, I’ve called the Colorado mountains home for over twelve years. After living in Boston for six years, I still find myself with some east coast tendencies, which I try to temper by enjoying the outdoors with my husband and four-legged kid, Taco the adventure cat. When I’m not logging screen hours, I can be found whitewater paddleboarding, fly fishing, backpacking, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, or getting myself into some other mountain adventure.
Angie is an award-winning Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) accredited through the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC).
She is also the recipient of the 2023 Top Career Coach Award and the 2022 Top Coach of the Americas, both presented by CoachAwards and GoMaster Coach.
Acacia Fante, CPRW
Career Coach
At an early age, my family encouraged me to find meaning in my work, which is why I started my career as a classroom teacher. It’s also why, in 2020, I came to a crossroads and chose to leave education. To say I was burnt out is an understatement; I was charred to a crisp; the career path no longer felt sustainable, and I knew I needed to find a way to feel purposeful in my career while not feeling completely depleted at the end of the day.
I experienced first-hand what the investment in career coaching can do for your professional development. I navigated a major career change at the height of the pandemic, entered the tech industry, and have been on a steady growth path ever since.
I’m a Career Benders’ success story; I want you to be the next.
When I’m not working in the tech field or supporting career development, you can find me exploring my new home of Tulsa, OK (I’m a Colorado native) with my two four-legged fur children while navigating the interesting world of being married to a future doctor currently in residency.
Founder’s Story
I love helping humans strategize.
Whether it’s to creatively position yourself for a new career, level up into an executive role, or design a business based on your unique skills, knowledge, and experience, we’re here to help you reach your goals.
I started Career Benders on January 8, 2018 with one simple goal: help you shape your future.
We’ve evolved since then. I’ve evolved since then. I may have started out on a solo-mission to help people changed careers, but the journey has given me so much more.
A small team of coaches, two international awards, and countless outcomes later, Career Benders has become one of the premier providers of boutique 1:1 career services and job search coaching.
Where does my perspective come from?
I’ve been there.
After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Civil Engineering, I practiced in the industry for about eight years. For some reason, I thought a tanking economy was a good time to change careers, so in the winter of 2010, I set out to pursue a career in a more creative, communicative environment.
In the time since, I’ve done everything from sell bags with a direct sales company (and build a top 3% business) to run an art gallery, lead a nonprofit to explosive growth, own a snowboard company, help new businesses incorporate, and coach entrepreneurs.
But what I’m really passionate about is helping people achieve career and business satisfaction, realize their true potential and marketability, and deliver that with confidence to reach new heights.
From engineer to entrepreneur, it is through Career Benders that I live out my purpose to activate the potential in you for ultimate career and business satisfaction.
— Angie M. Callen, Founder and Principal
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Meet the Team
Jim Anthony
Media and Operations Director
I’m another former hospitality professional, so the first thing you’ll likely notice about me is my friendly and open communication style. A self-proclaimed “enabler of good times,” I love serving people and helping them have awesome, memorable experiences. I now do that through the creation of thoughtful, well-branded content, video, and websites.
I support a range of Career Benders operations, including husband to Angie. You can also find out more about my web and media services, which I do offer to people other than Angie, at Defiance Digital Media.
Kristen Peele
Marketing and Operations Assistant
From social media to Sunday Scaries, Kristen has her hands on just about everything you see.
She is the glue that keeps our marketing and content engine running, where her quirky sense of humor comes out – and fits right in here at Career Benders. Kristen makes her home in Raleigh, NC, where she pretends to be much more southern and proper than she is, and we’re all grateful for that (and for her)!
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