THE PROPRIETORS
Learn more about the proprietors and members of the Chavez Braga family
MARICEL BRAGA
Maricel is an essential asset to Chavez Braga Productions. She brings her experience in project management, design and multimedia marketing to direct all phases of both the creative and technical elements of operations and business development including website design, branding, content management, graphic design, public relations, marketing, e-commerce, real estate, and land acquisitions.
Maricel has a B.S. in City & Regional Planning with an emphasis in environmental planning, urban design, and sustainability from the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo College of Architecture & Environmental Design and a graduate degree in completion from Harvard University, where she has served as a built environment and public health researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts since 2019. She currently serves as a Lecturer and member of the faculty and instructional team at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut where she has been teaching graduate and professional students in the Yale School of Public Health since 2020.
Prior to her research and teaching roles at Harvard and Yale, Maricel served as a land use and environmental planner for government planning agencies and municipalities in California where she formed and legislated sustainability and green building policies and ordinances, managed and implemented environmental and conservation programs, and advised and guided land development projects.
In Maricel's spare time, she uses her 10+ years of interdisciplinary experience in event management (including serving as an event planner for the military) and her love of baking to lead the catering division of Chavez Braga Productions, Maricel's Desserts. She has catered to Hollywood celebrities, socialites, philanthropists, and well-known names in the industries of fashion, art, design, media, television and film. Her most recent clients and partnerships include celebrity fashion designer, Sue Wong, and luxury retailer, Williams -Sonoma.
In the community, Maricel is also a talented singer and performing artist. She is a cantor at multiple churches in Southern California including, Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church in La Jolla, CA and The Immaculata at the University of San Diego. As a sought-after vocalist and accomplished soloist, she has sung for countless significant occasions, including the Installation Mass of the new Cardinal Robert McElroy. In addition, Maricel is active in community theatre. She has performed on multiple occasions on local news stations. As a vocalist and stage actress, she has performed in numerous well renowned productions with the prestigious San Diego Opera and San Diego Symphony.
Maricel and her sister were raised in a family dedicated to public service with multiple generations of family members who have and currently serve in the military, federal government, health and medicine, public education, and religious service. In addition to using her gifts and talents in service to others and her community, Maricel is an avid reader and loves traveling internationally. Aside from work, she enjoys growing her flower and herb garden and painting scenes of her favorite destinations, including the lavender fields of Provence. Maricel and her sister, Jodessa, were raised in Japan and still call it home. Maricel is based in California and the East Coast.
To learn more about Maricel, visit her website at scholar.harvard.edu/maricelbraga.
JODESSA BRAGA
Jodessa is a great asset to Chavez Braga Productions. She leads our client relations and philanthropic department.
As a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach, Jodessa partners with individuals to help them discover, unleash and catalyze their inherent self-healing capacity by facilitating alignment between their personal health vision, values and goals and translating that into actionable steps via a structured partnership over time leading to a transformative and sustainable change in her clients' overall health and wellbeing.
Jodessa has over 15 years experience as a mental health professional and as a health and wellness advocate. Notably, Jodessa has met with key legislators on Capitol Hill to discuss the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to inform and influence public health policy with regards to improving health equity and decreasing health disparities especially amongst our most vulnerable populations. Jodessa has advanced graduate studies in Health Law & Policy from the University of California, San Diego and California Western School of Law, Master's degree in Human Behavior, Bachelor's degree in Psychology, and advanced professional training and certification in Integrative Health Coaching through Duke Integrative Medicine. Jodessa is currently completing her Juris Doctorate while also working for a Fortune-500 company headquartered in Cupertino, California.
Jodessa is a member of several professional organizations, including the Institute of Coaching at Harvard Medical School, the Veterans' Health Committee through the American Public Health Association (APHA), the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health (ACIMH), and the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM). She also serves as the inaugural Co-Chair for the Whole Health Steering Committee in San Diego for the VA Office of Patient-Centered Care.
Jodessa's joy comes from her faith in God, spending time in prayer, and spending time with her loving and supportive family. Her self-care ritual includes prayer, meditation, spending time in nature, listening to uplifting music, reading inspirational books, eating clean and keeping up with the latest research and news surrounding complementary integrative health approaches. Jodessa loves singing and has been a part of several major musical productions and has led an active role as vocalist for her church choir, which she co-directed with her family. She has graced many stages and has sung with the prestigious San Diego Symphony and has been a featured guest on local radio station, Star 94.1 and the TV network, Fox5 San Diego for her singing and music. She has also performed as the lead vocalist for local bands and churches.
Jodessa enjoys meeting new people, traveling the world and exploring different cultures. Jodessa lives from a heart-centered, purpose and value-driven life, which she believes is the key to mobilizing individuals’ gifts and talents collectively in service to others, creating a meaningful, positive impact on community and society as a whole. Jodessa is based in Southern California and Silicon Valley.
JODEL BRAGA
Jodel is a proud veteran, retired from twenty plus years of service in the US Navy. His illustrious career in the military, has brought him to many destinations across the world, from the Middle East to Africa, Europe, and Asia. He has been awarded countless medals and recognition for his valor and dedicated service. He has a B.A. in Business Administration and Management.
Aside from his love and passion for all things tech and innovation, he enjoys travel, the outdoors, film, and video production. Jodel has traveled extensively all over the world and is available for assignment in drone imagery in the Southern California region. Jodel is a licensed FAA Drone Pilot. He provides FAA Drone Pilot certification training and tutoring upon request. Services include:
- Drone photography and video
- FAA Drone Pilot certification training
- Military preparation and newly active mentoring
In his retirement, Jodel enjoys serving his community and church.