Critical Mass Radio Show

Raad Ghantous is the Principal of Raad Ghantous & Associates / RG&A, a firm specializing in luxury hospitality, wellness centers, and medical & day spa developments. Ghantous is also V.P. of Design for industry go to Identity Hospitality that specializes in spa and wellness consulting helping clients create successful environments that are conducive to healing and wellbeing, sanctuaries to heal the body, mind, and spirit. Raad has over 25 years of experience in developing and integrating elegant and seamless designs/modifications to new and existing structures. With degrees in both business and design, an international upbringing, and instrumental experience by working with industry giants Hirsch Bedner & Associates (HB&A), and architectural icons Wimberly, Allison, Tong & Go (WAT&G) Ghantous is able to marry his creativity in design to his acumen to marketing and business in general into a unique holistic vertically integrated approach to defensible and sustainable branding an

Jon Stark is CEO and Director of Peratech Holdco Limited, a tactile-sensing technology solutions company, providing next-generation human-machine interfaces with its proprietary Quantum Tunnelling Composite® materials and embedded force-touch software.   Prior to Peratech, Stark was VP of Printed Electronics at MFLEX (NASDAQ: MFLX), where he successfully led multiple new-technology commercialization efforts in miniaturizing power conditioning for high-speed communications, shrinking LIDAR systems to 20% of size and 5% of cost, and commercializing a touch-display module in commercial computing that won numerous awards at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). During his tenure at MFLEX, Stark also held executive-level positions in and Corporate Strategy and Marketing, when MFLEX was awarded Deloitte’s Fast 50 Technology companies three out of four years.   Before MFLEX, Stark held interim executive and consultative roles in strategy, change management, innovation, and communications in a vari

Bruce Watanabe is the Founder & CEO of PowerBuy. PowerBuy is a one-stop Shopify app design to connect shoppers with all the best deals on necessary products and to provide merchants with free advertising. Using the power of social commerce and group buying, PowerBuy allows merchants to cut down on marketing spend by turning customers into micro-influencers. A serial entrepreneur, Bruce has co-founded and exited a number of technology and Internet ventures including PowerBuy, MassGenie, SIRE Mobile (SMS Solutions), and SETA International (Global Systems Integrator & Solution Provider). With over 20+ years of leadership experience ranging from start-ups to Fortune 10 companies, Bruce is proficient in start-ups, M&A, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, Sales, and Channel Development. In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Bruce Watanabe joins host Ric Franzi to discuss his entrepreneurial ventures and leadership insights as the CEO of PowerBuy. -- Critical Mass Business Ta

Nithin Jilla is a passionate educator, social entrepreneur and philanthropist who champions building models and systems of social change that are sustainable and empower the next generation. Nithin began with his first efforts in philanthropy with his high school class – establishing a project to help raise funds to renovate educational facilities and provide students with scholarships in Kenya, to enhance the quality of education, one student and one school at a time. Nithin currently serves as the Executive Director of Dreams for Schools (DFS), an EdTech organization whose mission is to make STEAM approachable and empower students to become the critical thinkers, creative leaders and technologists of tomorrow. Nithin has also advised and helped run a few family foundations and their grant-making strategies over the years. He’s always thinking about how we can reinvent and take new approaches in philanthropy to be more equitable. Nithin is also the Co-Founder of Excelsior Creative – a creative web developm

Thuy Pham-Satrappe is the President and Founder of Lux Lucet Ventures Corporation, a real estate investing firm.  In June 2019, Thuy started investing out of state in Indiana the pockets of her time, and has since grown her rental real estate portfolio to over $2M with 26 properties.   In February 2020, Thuy decided to quit her corporate job to spend more time with her 2 young children and pursue her passion and vision for real estate investing. Her vision is to create passive income for her family and her money partners, because she believes a rising tide raises all ships!  In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Thuy Pham-Satrappe joins host Ric Franzi to share her entrepreneurial journey, and leadership insights as the Founder of Lux Lucet Ventures Corporation. -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at R

Lisa Nguyen is the Founder & CEO of Smart Bean Inc., a team of people with diverse entrepreneurial backgrounds that share one common goal: to revolutionize the relationship between small business entrepreneurs and their numbers through innovative and affordable products and services. Over the last 20 years, Lisa Nguyen has worked for small businesses, invested in small businesses, and owned her own small business, and has tremendous respect and empathy for small business entrepreneurs as a result, as it takes intelligence, resilience, tremendous self-awareness and guts to start and build a viable business. Lisa is realizing her dream with Smart Bean Inc., as her team develops products and services that will make intrepid entrepreneurs smile more, love more, and achieve more from life. SmartBean® uses technology to streamline the bookkeeping process, making it more efficient and therefore more affordable. In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Lisa Nguyen joins host Ric Franzi to discus

Pembe Candaner is the Co-Founder & President of JobzMall. JobzMall is the new way of finding jobs and exploring organizations, founded with the belief that humans are so much more than a resume, and companies are so much more than a job post. JobzMall Inc. strives to make the job finding process enjoyable, engaging and accessible to everyone. Prior to her work at JobzMall Inc., Pembe Candaner served as the CEO of Adecco SA Turkey, General Manager of Lee Hecht Harrison, and CEO of Kariyer.net, the largest employment portal of Turkey. She is a member of TUSIAD (Turkish Industry and Business Association), the top business association of Turkey and Society for Human Resource Management.  As a vocal activist of women rights, Candaner hosted her TV show at national ‘Artı Bir TV’ channel about Woman Leaders and Entrepreneurs. She has also lectured in Bogazici University (Bosphorus University) and UCI (University of California. Irvine) on Development of Woman Leaders, Talent Management, Protocol and Etiquette a

Rodney Brenneman is a seasoned veteran in the medical device space. He has been CEO, board member, advisor and consultant to many early-stage medical technology companies. He is a mechanical engineer by training, with over 30 years of experience in medical device development, mostly in early-stage start-up companies. His experience spans many specialties including vascular, general surgery, interventional cardiology, pulmonology, emergency medicine, ENT, GI, urology and orthopedics. Rodney is currently the CEO of PhageTech and prior to that, founded and lead ROX Medical for 14 years, raising $90M in venture funding. Rodney counts innovative problem solving as one of his core talents and is a named inventor on over 130 patents. Rodney has worked closely with all aspects of medical device development including fundraising, board management, R&D, quality, manufacturing, finance, regulatory, clinical, and physician training. Rodney most enjoys the leadership of small efficient teams solving important medical

Nicole Suydam has more than 20 years of management and leadership experience working with local and national nonprofits dedicated to meeting human service needs. She currently serves as president and CEO of Goodwill of Orange County, one of Orange County’s largest nonprofits by revenue. Suydam leads Goodwill’s social enterprise operation that employs nearly 1,800, manages 24 local thrift stores and ShopGoodwill.com – the online e-commerce marketplace for Goodwills across the country – and serves more than 18,000 individuals annually through its innovative programs and services aimed at providing purpose through employment. Suydam has received several accolades for her commitment to creating a better and brighter Orange County for all, including being named to the Orange County Business Journal’s “OC 50” list for 2020 and 2021 for her influence and impact in the community. She was also named one of just six 2019 Women of Coast by Coast Magazine and received the 2018 Women of the Year Award by the Orange Coun

Debora Wondercheck is the CEO of Arts & Learning Conservatory (ALC). An effective corporate leader with seventeen years of experience in strategy development, program management, and implementation, Debora focuses on culturally sensitive and inclusive afterschool artistic training and education for all children in k-12 schools, particularly those who are underresourced. As the founder of the nationally acclaimed Arts & Learning Conservatory (ALC), Wondercheck has a proven track record in fundraising, public education, executive leadership, non-profit governance, community building, and program development. Her professional interests include arts education sustainability, board development, and equitable access to the arts. Her extensive expertise in music and education, combined with her ability to build strong partnerships across the public and private sectors has delivered powerful results throughout her career. As the go-to for afterschool programs, Wondercheck’s relationships have created artist

Rick Van Kirk is an executive who has worked in the Southern California region for 36 years in various manufacturing industries. Following his graduation from California State University, Fullerton in 1982 he has worked in the aerospace, computer, commercial electronics, diecasting, and medical device industries. During this time Van Kirk completed his MBA from Claremont Graduate School in 1991. Currently, Rick serves as President and CEO of Pro-Dex Inc., a design and manufacturing company in the medical device industry. He joined Pro-Dex as Director of Manufacturing in 2006, and was subsequently promoted to Vice President of Operations and then Chief Operating Officer in April 2013 and then to CEO in January 2015. During his time as CEO Pro-Dex, he has led a successful turnaround of the company and positioned it for further growth. Previously, Rick served as Manufacturing Manager and Manager of Product Development for the ChargeSource division of Comarco Wireless Technologies, a provider of power and charg

Based in Mission Viejo, Amour Propre®️ is a beauty brand that strives to make the world a better place, one person and one natural product at a time. Translating to “Self-Love” in French, Amour Propre®️ is centered in self-love, enhanced by science, inspired by nature and fueled by positive energy. Amour Propre®️ is in business to encourage our customers to practice self-love by experiencing the joy of utilizing natural, organic, and aromatherapeutic wellness and beauty products. Established in March of 2020, Amour Propre®️ saw $20k in profit in its first month in business alone. With over 150 products and variations made for women and men alike, the brand offers a luxury experience at an affordable price. In this edition of Critical Mass Business Talk Show, Founder & CEO Tahera Christy joins host Ric Franzi to share her success with Amour Propre®️, and what she has learned throughout her business journey. -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, f

Robert Ming is Founder and CEO of ThoughtWorld and is responsible for setting the overall policy and direction of the company and platform. His deep desire to bring people together and make the world a better place shows up both in the platform and in how he has invested his energy throughout life. As a practicing attorney and founding partner of Quadrant Law Group, a law firm specializing in technology contract negotiation, Robert found his love for bringing people together and making complex things simple. He used those skills politically while Mayor of Laguna Niguel, California, where he served as a council member for 8 years. During that time, he founded the Association of California Cities – Orange County, a public policy think tank for bringing elected officials together to tackle some of the most difficult political issues of the day. He loves making safe places where people can learn and expand their minds, as he has done as Chairman of Stoneybrooke Christian Schools, where he has served for 17 year

Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan made history in November of 2020. She not only received the highest number of votes for the position of Mayor in the city’s history, but also shattered glass ceilings as the first woman of color to hold the position, and the first Muslim woman to lead a large city in the United States.   In addition to serving as Irvine Mayor, Farrah Khan is also the President of Horizon Consulting USA, where she serves as a recruitment consultant working with businesses, community organizations, and governments to find short-term and direct hires. She has 8 years of corporate management, 15 years of small business, and 5 years non-profit experience. Mayor Khan grew up in northern California and began her career in the biotech and innovation industry as a regulatory manager focusing on streamlining complex products and international research. She and her family moved to Irvine in 2004 where her two sons have had the privilege of attending Irvine schools since Kindergarten. She and her husband als

Stephanie Oddo is an educator, entrepreneur, and Laguna Niguel City Council candidate. Most recently, Stephanie has found much reward in serving as Director of Government for the League of Women Voters of Orange Coast. She launched the League’s first-ever Observer Corps. The Corps inspires, trains and empowers volunteers to observe and report on their local city and county public meetings. The program currently observes 7 cities and 4 county boards.  Stephanie is the founder of Healthcare Mask Collaborative (HMC). HMC served almost 150 organizations, had over 220 sewers who sewed and distributed over 65,000 cloth masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the first Democrat to ever run a serious campaign in Laguna Niguel, Stephanie earned over 11,000 votes and was the next on the ballot to win in the 2020 election. Stephanie is now launching a new nonprofit with her business partner that will empower and educate women on how to report certain crimes against them. Stephanie has also served as President of the La

Paul Nelson, Esq. is recognized throughout Orange County as an expert in Family Law Litigation. As Managing Partner at Nelson Kirkman, Paul has built an excellent reputation in the legal community and has been quoted as a legal expert by Fox News and Forbes. Paul's many honors and awards speak to his expertise: AV Preminent® & Judicial and Bar Highest Possible Rating (Martindale Hubbel®), two-time Super Lawyers Honoree (2021 & 2022), Honorary Chairman of the Business Advisory Council (2009), OC’s Most Talked-About Lawyers (2008), Premier Attorneys of Orange County (Orange Coast Magazine, 2008), as well as a National Leadership Award from the National Republican Congressional Committee. With a strategic approach to high-stakes cases, Paul handles roadblocks by utilizing outside-the-box thinking to get it done, believing that there is always a way. In his work, Paul is guided by the principle that being a successful attorney is like playing a game of chess: it’s all about the long game. He joins host

Monica Challingsworth is President and Co-Founder of Eustress and Demeter, a full-service restaurant consulting firm specializing in building sales programs for multi-unit restaurants and independent operators. Eustress and Demeter started in 2017 to fill a void in the restaurant industry. With an ever-changing landscape, they knew there was an opportunity to help brands of all sizes build incremental revenue programs. They have worked with some of the top names in hospitality and private equity and have curated a record generation of over $50 million in off-premises sales.  At Eustress and Demeter, Monica has responsibility for developing, engaging, and sustaining her clients’ most important assets – their people and top-line revenue. In addition to Eustress and Demeter, Monica is the Co-founder of ED Distribution Group; the exclusive distributor for V10 Plus USA, a Japanese skincare brand whose core focus is to build confidence from within. Monica has hosted many Women’s Mastermind networking groups has be

Leigh Lester is the Founder & Executive Director of Ubuntu Institute of Learning, an international training organization focused on social justice issues ranging from Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging to Entrepreneurship to Affordable Housing.  As a trainer, consultant, educator, public speaker, serial ideator, and occasionally a coach, Leigh is always a positive force for her clients and co-conspirators. She is active in her community of Long Beach, She serves on a national Board of Directors for industry and nonprofit organizations. Her passion is service. She focuses that passion in affordable housing, under-invested entrepreneurship programs and/or diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives.   Known for her ability to break big ideas into bite-sized pieces, Leigh’s magic powers include public speaking, training, schmoozing, collaborating and totally out-of-the-box ideation.  With over 20+ years industry experience, her main focus now is helping others create the right action st

Ronald Stein, P.E. is an engineer and Founder of PTS Advance, a California-based company. Founded in 1995 by Ronald & June Stein, Principal Technical Services (PTS) was designed to meet a gap in the market. Client organizations were seeking greater transparency and flexibility as they contracted specialized talent to augment key roles in their organizations. As a project manager in the industry, Ronald knew first-hand that success relied upon attracting and retaining great candidates with a full compensation package, including PTO and medical benefits – an approach not common for typical engineering staffing services in the ’90s.  The PTS team subsequently delivered a best-in-class service to both the client and candidate as the premier contingent workforce management partner for the California Energy & Infrastructure market. Now known as PTS Advance, the company is building on past successes and expanding the quality of service they offer to a nationwide list of clients and candidates in the Energ

Steve Reinharz is the CEO of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc., (OTCPK:AITX) and Founder and CEO of the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD).  Mr. Reinharz is a proven and seasoned leader in the physical security industry with nearly 25 years of experience holding various roles in multiple disciplines. Reinharz has led RAD to create and launch a successful line of artificial intelligence-powered solutions specifically developed for the guarding and concierge industries.  Mr. Reinharz’s experience is multi-faceted in that he’s started and ran his own security integration company from the age of 24 to 31, becoming one of California’s premier system integrator. Subsequently, Mr. Reinharz was part of a team that successfully sold an integrator to a global security firm for $42 million and has held various other industry roles. Mr. Reinharz speaks and contributes to panels at ISC East and West, and ASIS. Mr. Reinharz is a leading member of several industry associati