The record behind the work.
A complete account of field experience, institutional roles, certifications, and the infrastructure supporting the Relational Intelligence framework.
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
Chief Executive — Connected Through Change
Founder and operator of the primary relational intelligence platform for couples navigating midlife transition.
Current
Founder — Relational Impact Institute
Independent nonprofit research organization advancing the science of relational intelligence.
Currently in formation toward 501(c)3 status.
Founder — RQ Kitchen
Innovation lab and software incubator applying Relational Intelligence principles to practical software development.
Current
Chief Operating Officer — Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Chapter
The largest Make-A-Wish chapter in the world. Twelve years leading operational systems for one of the most emotionally complex nonprofit organizations in the world — coordinating medical, community, volunteer, and family-facing systems at scale across a three-state region.
Concluded prior to current work
Chief Operating Officer — Faith-Based Organization
Five years as COO responsible for organizational architecture, staff and volunteer alignment, financial operations, spiritual formation infrastructure, and community governance.
Concluded prior to current work
Solutions Architect — Behavioral Health Systems
Enterprise systems integration across EMR platforms, scheduling systems, accounting infrastructure, and operational workflows in behavioral health contexts.
Concluded prior to current work
Auditor and CPA — Public Accounting
Structural analysis, financial systems review, and organizational audit across multiple industry contexts. Foundation of systems thinking applied throughout subsequent career.
Concluded prior to current work
PUBLISHED WORKS
When Strength Stops Working
Book One — Relational Intelligence Series
Published — Amazon Bestseller
The Original Sound
Book Two — Relational Intelligence Series
In Final Draft
The Power of the Pause
Book Three — Relational Intelligence Series
In Development
The Sacred Comma
Book Four — Relational Intelligence Series
In Development
The Good Husband's Guide to Menopause
Published — Amazon Bestseller
Your Emotional DNA
Published
The Secret Sauce to Success
Published
INSTITUTIONAL ROLES
Founder — Relational Impact Institute
Independent nonprofit research organization. Seven defined research programs scoped. Grant development pipeline in active preparation. 501(c)3 application in process.
Founder — RQ Kitchen
Software incubator applying Relational Intelligence principles across decision support, insight and diagnostic, communication and reflection, and content intelligence tool categories.
Creator — RQ Index
The measurement infrastructure of the Relational Intelligence ecosystem. Converts relational intelligence from subjective observation into quantifiable trackable data. Consumer-facing assessments are expressions of the RQ Index.
CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING
SPEAKING
Russell speaks on the following topics for organizations, conferences, faith communities, and leadership gatherings.
Relational Intelligence — framework, application, and field evidence
Midlife Transition as Relational Architecture — what the breakdown is actually asking
The Systems Behind Human Relationships — why people and organizations keep breaking down in the same places
Leadership and Relational Intelligence — the capacity most leadership development programs don't measure
The Shared Mission — reorienting couples and organizations toward purpose beyond function
Formats: Keynote, Panel, Workshop, Retreat Session, Conference Breakout
INTERNATIONAL FIELD WORK
Leadership development engagements in Papua New Guinea and Paraguay — observing and contributing to systems-level leadership transformation across radically different cultural, economic, and governmental contexts. Cross-cultural confirmation that the patterns the Relational Intelligence framework describes are human in origin, not cultural or demographic.
CONTACT AND VERIFICATION
A complete CV and supporting references are available on request.
For institutional inquiries, research collaboration, or verification requests contact via the Research Collaboration pathway on the Contact page.