About Team PF
While it's true that Charlie may have started Productive Flourishing, keeping this site, business, and community going is now a team effort with 5 full-time employees and a handful of other folks from around the world, too. Scroll down to learn more about Team PF.
Charlie Gilkey
Founder, author, speaker, business strategist, podcaster, and more
Charlie hails from Arkansas, and currently lives in Portland, Oregon. Before starting Productive Flourishing, he was an Army Joint Force Logistics Officer while working on his Ph.D. in Philosophy. He gets excited by seeing people accomplish more than they thought was possible.
- Loves playing coop strategy games
- Is a self-taught singer-songwriter who plays acoustic guitar
- Was a cheerleader in high school (pictures on Facebook serve as a public record, sometimes to his chagrin)
If you'd like to learn more about Charlie, read more here.
Angela Wheeler, PhD
Co-Founder, coach, speaker, facilitator, and more
Angela is a coach, author, speaker, and facilitator who teaches people how to thrive and lead by becoming aware of their strengths, creating nourishing boundaries, and cultivating the courage to become their best selves. She's the co-founder of Productive Flourishing and co-host of the Productive Flourishing podcast.
- Attracts stray neighborhood animals who run from blocks away to love on her
- Can't remember movies after she watches them
- Is often the receiver of secrets that people tell her but never share with anyone else
If you'd like to know more about Angela, read more here.
Shannon McDonough
Administrative Miracle Worker
Shannon was born and raised in the shadow of Mt. Rainier and is a lifelong resident of Washington state. Admin work combines her love of helping people and her obsessive need to follow up on details. In her free time, she's a political and social justice junkie and loves football (go Seahawks!).
- Played the lead in her high school’s production of the musical “The Pajama Game”
- Is addicted to lip balm and uses it multiple times a day
- Is neurotic about recycling and will take things out of the trash if they can be recycled
Josephine Fannin
Operations Coordinator and Project Manager Extraordinaire
Jo lives in the desert of sunny Southern California, but is originally from Florida (yes, THAT Florida). A prior business owner and client of Charlie's, she's realized that owning a business isn't for her, and working for Productive Flourishing combines everything she loves to do into one job. When she's not at work, Jo loves playing tabletop and video games, obsessing over her chihuahuas (Punky Chewster & Rhubarb) and her houseplants/yard full of cacti, BAKING, and curating her list of TV shows to watch.
- Severely dislikes kitchen sponges
- Has formulated the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe after innumerable tests (SO. MANY. TESTS. 🙃 )
- Can be bribed with and accepts apologies when they include a houseplant or cactus
Jess Sommers
Digital Media Producer
Jess comes to Portland by way of the Midwest, and spends her days in design and marketing, loving the continued challenge of being able to learn something new every day. When she's not playing around on the computer, she loves being outside in nature, practicing yoga, and hangin' with her hubby.
- Is a 200-hr registered yoga teacher and can't get enough to getting upside down
- Played French horn throughout middle school and high school
- Favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut, and favorite book (by him) is The Sirens of Titan
Steve Arensberg
Content and Product Development
Steve is a long-time writer and editor (who hates to write about himself in the third person). He’s excited to bring his years of experience in corporate roles and in online business to Productive Flourishing. Steve originally hails from Michigan (Go Blue!), though he currently lives in San Antonio, Texas. When he’s not writing and editing and creating stuff (for PF and his own projects), Steve likes to play games (board, RPG, video), walk or hike, and chill with Hobbes the bulldog.
- Was also the lead in his high school musical
- Played piano and percussion through his school years (and wants his own conservatory room someday)
- Can't name a favorite book or author (so many books, so little time!)