About Carl Contino

Education

Los Angeles Music Academy - Pasadena, Ca., 1998-1999, studied & performed with African, Latin, and Brazilian percussion instruments.
University at Buffalo - Buffalo, NY, 1993-1996, GPA 3.53, Cum Laude, received Bachelor's Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Buffalo State College - Buffalo, NY, 1991-1992, studied Creative Problem Solving techniques.
Musician's Institute of Technology - Hollywood, Ca., 1989-1990, studied contemporary music.
Philadelphia College of Performing Arts - Philadelphia, Pa., 1987-1988, studied Jazz guitar.

Additional Training

International Coaching Federation - 2003-present, Buffalo, NY, coach certification seminar series. Also a founder and board member of the local chapter.
Coachville - 2001-present, Buffalo, NY, core training. Participated on the R&D Team with the late Thomas Leonard, the "father of coaching."
Landmark Education - 1998-1999, Toronto, Canada & Buffalo, NY Seminar series, Curriculum for Living - life mastery, personal development, coaching.
Tony Robbins - 1997, Toronto, Canada Seminar, Unleashing the Power Within - human potential, NLP, life mastery, coaching.
International Sports Science Association - Personal Trainer certification course.

Experience

Personal Development Coach -1997-present, help people lead empowered lives.

Teen Coaching - taught Life Principles to kids ages 13-15, 1st Premier Education - 1200 John Reed Ct., Industry, Ca 91745

Life Coaching - Curts (a.k.a. Dr. Fits'n'Stiches), a former homeless person: helped change his focus by providing hope, inspiration, and food. He's had an apartment and job for over a year and hopes someday to be a stand up comedian.

Health & Peak Performance Coaching - Joakim Ekburg, musician: helped him obtain peak levels of health and to expand his outlook on his career as a percussionist. He currently plays with Jackie D`shannon and Nancy Sinatra and is a regular musician at the famous Baked Potato in Los Angles.

Creativity Coaching - Kern Konwiser, producer & director: helped free up his creative approach in his career and handling the stress of the film industry. He is an Emmy Award Filmmaker (Miss Ever's Boys, On Hallowed Ground) living in Los Angeles.

Exceptionally Challenged Coaching - Jason Lockwood, an "exceptionally challenged" teenager: explored the gifts hidden within his challenges. Also enrolled him in a reading course at the California Literacy Center, his first class at Pasadena City College, and in a course offered by the Pasadena Public Access Television Station for hands on experience running camera equipment. He is deeply connected with his community and is running his own hot dog stand for income.

Relationship Coaching - Jennifer R., mother: helped her with getting custody of her child, Ryan, by finding ways to work with the father out of court. Today, she has an amicable relationship with the father and works closely with him in creating the very best for their son.

Other

Instructor - 12 years experience teaching adults & children guitar, percussion, creativity principles, and basic computer & Internet skills.

Business - 1994-1997, Water's Edge Fountains - ran all aspects of my business including the creation, development, marketing, and sales of custom indoor waterfalls.

Testimonials

Kern Konwiser
Emmy-Winning Film Director & Producer

"Carl has created one of the most original and invigorating frameworks for enjoying creative freedom in even the simplest and most mundane parts of everyday life. It's a simple and achievable way to engage in courageous living. If it's true that everything that we do is motivated by either our hopes or our fears, then Carl's created a way to act on our hopes without being distracted by our fears.

In my career as a filmmaker, there are countless risks that I have to take. I turn to Carl's methods on a daily basis to help me make those choices with courage and conviction. He's helped to give me a creative freedom that I might not otherwise have claimed as my artistic right."

Joakim Ekberg
Musician

"Carl, you need to know what a huge impact you had on my life when we were roomates in music school, I lost 70 lbs (!) in 12 weeks because of what you showed me. And you taught me how to live my life...you told me things that I'll never forget. And Jimmy...remember him barging in and doing push-ups in front of the tv? How he put down the booze, lost weight, and got those huge shoulders?!

I often speak of those days you helped us both out, coming up with a nutrition plan, working out together, coaching us on life and how to live it to the max. You did all that...you, my friend.

You need to tell your story, guy. The world needs to hear what you have to say, so don't be so damn modest about it!"

Cyd Cox
Professional Coach

"I personnally could write a disertation about the ways I enjoyed your presentation ... nothing but inspirational. In fact it was just right for me considering what I needed that day. I could go on and on really, and I will at some point.

For now I will say this: I think you have a knack for articulating ideas. And you have great ideas...ideas people need to hear.

You are a shining star."

His Story

Carl Contino As far back as I can remember, I’ve always had an insatiable appetite for figuring out how things work - nothing was safe from my probing mind. Littered with the guts of my toys, model planes, rockets, gadgets, tools of inquiry like my microscope, chemistry set, and telescope, my bedroom was my laboratory for “finding life out.” The smells of glue, solder, and paint seeping underneath the door told anyone walking by that Carl was hard at play.

Heroes like Evil Knievel, The World’s Strongest Man, and the Six Million Dollar Man were an endless source of inspiration for me. Every Friday night, sitting cross-legged 3 feet away from the TV screen, eating Bocce’s pizza, I’d feel the thrill of watching Steve Austin run like a cheetah, lift a car with superhuman strength to save a child pinned underneath, and see danger a mile away with his bionic eye.

I too wanted to be able to do the incredible, the miraculous, things that have never been done before. Whether flying off the bike ramp, speeding down the ski slope as fast as I could (with as few turns as possible), or skate boarding down the hill on my street, I was constantly testing the limits.

Nothing could stop me.

Or so I thought.
(to be continued ....)