The Coaches
Robert O. Sanders Jr.
Robert O. Sanders Jr. is the CEO and Founder of Hospitality Resource Group, Inc. (HRG), established in 1997 in Westchester County, New York. HRG includes Event Solutions, Strategic Training Solutions, and Allegis Communications, and has grown significantly over the past 25+ years.
Robert's extensive hospitality career includes leadership roles in sales, marketing, training, and operations. Before founding HRG, he was Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Abigail Kirsch Culinary Productions, driving successful marketing campaigns. At Marriott Corporation, he advanced from Chef to Director of Catering at the Marriott Marquis in New York City over fifteen years.
Robert is active in business and community affairs. He has served as President of the Greater New York chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and is a board member of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. (HVEDC) and the Workforce Development Board of Westchester County. He has also been involved with the American Red Cross and Junior Achievement.
Robert received the American Red Cross Samuel J. Friedman Humanitarian Award in 1999 and the Father of the Year Award from the American Arthritis Association in 2017. He volunteers with Bridges to Community, leading humanitarian efforts in Nicaragua.
Aligned with Empowered Mastery for over a decade, Robert serves as a Business Coach, sharing his specialized skills and experience to help others achieve their full potential in the business, hospitality, and nonprofit sectors.
John Urchak
John Cosmo Urchak is one of the first graduates of the Empowered Mastery University program and was accredited as an Empowered Mastery Coach in the Summer 2024. After less then 2 years in the program as a client his results were so remarkable that he had developed a burning passion to help others reach their greatness and full potential. John quickly embraced the role of student and focused all his efforts into absorbing every bit of his performance coach, Paul Melella’s 25+ years wealth of knowledge.
With an existing background in coaching sports, playing college football, and being a serial entrepreneur, John brings a truly diverse set of his own skills and perspective to the Empowered Mastery program. He was the youngest person to earn the Sales Manager title in his division’s history for a fortune 500 company. After years of success in that role he pursued entrepreneurship and opened his State Farm Agency in West Caldwell NJ, along with a real estate developing and investing company.
Always looking for ways to grow, John knew there were ways to expand on personal development and mindset growth outside of his own abilities. He was referred to Coach Paul by a friend and long-term client that had found tremendous success from the program. In less than one year as a client, Radical change ensued: John ran his first full marathon, lost forty-five pounds, accomplished numerous fitness goals, grew tremendously in his Faith, completely transformed his relationship with wife and children, and more than 10Xed revenue in his businesses!
John is a highly active member in his community in Essex County NJ, where he resides with his wife and three children. He holds multiple board and advisory positions. Performance coaching has become his passion and is where he feels he finally found the perfect fit to share his professional/individual experiences and skills. “I am proof that The Empowered Mastery Program was a key component to the rapid success I experienced and is replicable for anyone seeking change.” He specializes in working with corporate executives, sales professionals, and white/blue collar entrepreneurs.
Specialties – Speaking engagements, group training, multi-dimensional success, (SOP) standard operating procedure training, entrepreneurship, personal development, mindset coaching.
Angela Vahue
Always striving to turn possibilities into realities, from a young age, Angela has been rooted in the belief that it's not a question of IF something can be accomplished, but rather HOW it can be achieved. Her relentless pursuit of personal growth led her to Empowered Mastery in 2011, where she has been a dedicated student ever since. This journey has profoundly transformed her life, filling it with remarkable and positive changes. Angela is passionate about coaching others, igniting their potential, and empowering them to live their best lives—physically, mentally, financially, and emotionally. She is dedicated to inspiring greatness in those who seek to elevate their lives for themselves and future generations.
In addition to her coaching endeavors, Angela is the proud owner and president of AVA Wealth Advisors (Angela Vahue & Associates Wealth Advisors). She derives immense satisfaction from helping others attain financial health and the freedom it provides. Over the past decade, Angela has garnered numerous accolades, including “Best in State” Financial Security Professional by Forbes, Top 50 Financial Advisors of New York State for Finance & Investing, and perennial recognition as a Court of the Table qualifier at the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), a global association of leading insurance and financial services professionals. In 2022, she was honored as a Financial Leader by the Rochester Business Journal, acknowledging her exceptional contributions to her organization and the community.
Angela lives in Virginia with her supportive husband Matt and their wonderful daughter Misha. She has a passion for crafts and loves to plan a good, themed party! For Angela, life is about creating meaningful memories with her family and embracing every moment.