Critical Mass Business Talk Show | Orange County’s Longest-Running Business Talk Show

Our host Richard Franzi attended one day of the two-day Technology Investor Forum hosted by OCTANe. The title of this year’s event was “Building The SoCal of Tomorrow”. There were over 850 attendees and 55 speakers. Dean Stoecker, CEO of Alteryx was a panelist discussing “Anatomy of Success” and Richard spent a few minutes with Dean to have him expand on a few of the points he made during the panel discussion.

On May 23rd, Cox Business hosted the fifth Get Started Orange County live pitch competition, featuring five finalists - METAseismic, Beehive Talent, GoTouch, Seasonally Fresh and Smart Bean. Each entrepreneur was judged on product/service viability in the market, possession of a unique and defensible position, scalability, a clear revenue model and overall presentation. METAseismic founder Noemi Bonessio delivered the award-winning, two-minute verbal pitch and answered questions from a panel of expert judges, ultimately taking first place.

From self-driving cars to automatic machines, technology is taking over much of society. But should robots be viewed as the ultimatum? Lisa Anderson, author of Will Robots Pay Back? joins us to share her perspective.

With over thirty years of banking experience, Joe Hensley is a leader in commercial banking in Orange County. He joins us to discuss the latest in the bank sector of the Orange County economy.

The ENP forums is an established network of key level executive leaders who come together to share and review first look innovations in business and leadership. CEO & President Scott Hamilton joins us to discuss the May event line-up and what you can benefit from.

With extensive experience in management and consulting, Nancy Drew helps coach clients to achieve challenging goals and create sustainable action plans. She joins us to discuss how she's offering her services to Saddleback Church through outreach programs to orphans.

UCI Applied Innovation brings campus-based discoveries together with OC's vibrant business community to support job creation and economic growth. Carolyn Stephens joins us to discuss the Cove and the ecosystem supporting early-stage companies.

Powered by its transformative business model, firm morals, and the industry's best pioneers, Alcen Renewable takes every opportunity to revolutionize and change the way people perceive alternative energy. Tao Kong joins us to discuss how today's politics are effecting the renewable energy industry.

By working on matters of critical importance and developing impactful solutions, Scaleocity Works helps empower executives and become employers of choice and greatness. Brian Montes joins us to provide insight into how global experience can help build efficient and productive enterprises.

The Orange County Business Journal and OneOC will be recognizing, for the 2nd year, the 50 most community minded Orange County companies. The recognition helps provide visibility and a framework for how local companies impact the quality of life in our community.

With the increase of uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets, it is getting harder for people to find true assets and a clear financial path. The team at HNFinancial Group helps people bring true asset class diversification with their diverse tactics. Financial advisor Gali Horev joins us to discuss the philosophy behind how his clients can grow while maintaining financial balance.

"Juiced Up, But Also More Fragile" is the headline for the 2018 Spring Economic Outlook and Forecast. Dr. Mira Farka will be on the radio show to provide her insights into what we can expect for the U.S. and Orange County economies.

If you're a professional service provider or consultant, you understand the unknown challenges of sharing your skills and expertise with those who need them. Tom McMakin, author of How Clients Buy, offers a survival guide for every service professional with proven strategies.

Real leaders are activist leaders--they activate conditions for transformational winning to occur for everyone across the spectrum. Jay Levin of WinThinking joins us with more on how he's helping high achievers achieve more of what they want while finding a balance between personal and professional success.

For Care Partners at Home, each day is an opportunity to deliver compassion, empathy and love. Randy Platt and Rodney Burris, two healthcare leaders, channeled their personal stories of caregiving and love into a completely different approach.

When it comes to getting reliable information about your business or gaining valuable insight about your company's financial health, you want the best and only the best. A La Carte Solutions helps you profit from experience by offering custom-tailored accounting teams for your firms. Shirley Wiliani joins us to discuss more.

Culture is the foundation for success in any organization, so it's no surprise that companies with the strongest cultures earn top rankins on several lists including "best places to work." Chris Dyer is here to discuss his book The Power of Company Culture and the impact of culture on a firm's overall success.

70 million people in the world are in need of a wheelchair but cannot afford one. Free Wheelchair Mission is a nonprofit organization that provides wheelchairs at no cost to people in developing nations. President and CEO Don Schoendorfer joined us to discuss how the organization is transforming lives through the gift of mobility.

Michael Ashley and his team at INK Wordsmiths help aspiring novelists and authors to monetize their passion with guidance, utilizing past experiences to offer personalized coaching. He joined us to discuss his firm and the importance of outlining and getting your ideas on the page.

Whether it be an email, blog or article, everyone ends up doing some sort of writing in their work field. If you're looking to improve your writing in an easy way, Peter Brennan is here to help. In his latest book How to Write at Work, he breaks it all down into a checklist with professional tips.

OCTANe is building the SoCal of tomorrow by connecting people, resources, and capital to drive technology industry growth and new jobs into Orange County. President & CEO Bill Carpou joined us to discuss the company's vision and more.

Every ten seconds, a child is abused. To raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month, we are shining a spotlight on the Child Abuse Prevention Center, an organization that directly serves at-risk children and families in crisis and works to break the generational cycle of abuse. Executive Director Scott Trotter joined us to share more about the foundation and its work.

Author Chevonna Gaylor joins us to provide insight related to her work as a mental health expert, as well as to discuss her latest book The Emerging Healer, in which she models the process of exploring one's own personal story to support growth as a healer.

The concept of creativity can be seen everywhere from business to personal life, and is often the quickest way to get your own colors shown to the public with the utmost attention. Erik Kerr from The Draw Shop joins us to discuss how The Draw Shop is bringing marketing and sales to life.

A rapid rise in state and city minimum wage combined with low unemployment is creating a compensation ticking time bomb for many firm leaders. President of Personnel Systems Associates Mae Lon Ding joins us to discuss two new laws affecting compensation in California.

Susan Shelley is a columnist for the Southern California News Group, a published author and former candidate for the California State Assembly. During our interview we will be covering a wide range of topics including the importance of local newspaper reporting to the business community.

Perception is reality -- and it's powerful, especially when it comes to workplace barriers, the gender gap, and leadership. In Shawn Andrews' latest book, The Power of Perception, she offers a practical guide to educate leaders to strive for the best.

Do you sell or do you serve? In her latest book, Don't Sell, Let Them Buy, Author Chiqeeta Jameson teaches readers how to master an easy and proven step-by-step sales conversation process. You'll be able to organize sales conversations while mastering the techniques of questioning and more.

Bryan Cunningham is the leading international expert on cybersecurity law and privacy. At UCI he serves as the executive director of the multidisciplinary cybersecurity polcy and research institute, where he offers his expertise in helping Americans take better control of their digital security.

Killing Cats Leads to Rats is Richard Franzi’s 3rd book and his most ambitious project. Ric talks about his latest book and on how unintended consequences can impact a business performance and lower employee morale. The book will be on sale on Thursday March 29th on Amazon CLICK HERE.

For the last 20 years, Tim Forbes has worked in the sports management business, juggling his passions and interests with his work. In his latest book It's Game Time Somewhere, he goes over how his past experience in over 100 events helped shape his sports entrepreneurship from A to Z.

According to CNBC, almost 49% of all Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck, so it’s no wonder many people are always searching for the “key” to success. Author Clint Arthur joins us to discuss how you can up your Speaking Game with things we can say as we walk on the path to success.

As a business owner, it is important to know the ins and outs of corporate and business law. As a business attorney with over 20 years of experience, John Ohashi has the answers to all law-related questions and concerns.

OC Autos is a destination where females can feel comfortable buying, selling, and servicing their vehicles. Bushra Salman created the firm from the ground up -- with a mission to inject her love for helping people, giving back, and growing a destination for diesel vehicles. She joined us to share her work, passion, and the ROW Program at OC Autos.

Owning your own business gives you the freedom to manage on your own terms, but it comes at a price. Instead of living in success, business owners often find themselves struggling to balance work, passion, and employee satisfaction. In his latest book,Transform Your Company, author Alex Vorobieff introduces his "business alignment tools," which can help business leaders build from their inner core.

How can ten minutes of your time result in completely different turnarounds? President of Sandler Training Douglas Kolker joins us to discuss how, with over 254 training centers worldwide, Sandler Training helps organizations deliver total selling solutions to improve their top and bottom lines.

As the first company in the long-term rental space utilizing Blockchain, RentBerry has developed a unique approach and is dedicated to providing a seamless rental experience. CEO Alex Lubinsky joins us to give an in-depth look into Blockchain and how it can help your company.

Disengagement can be lethal to business and morale, affecting not only workplace outcomes, but also a company's well-being and atmosphere as a whole. Andrew Sherman, author of The Crisis of Disengagement, joins us to discuss how business leaders can remedy disengagement and reignite their companies.

When it comes to their work, most employees today want more than simply a means of ensuring that their basic needs are met. They have other needs to satisfy - the need to have meaning and purpose, to tap into their potential and to find self-actualization. In his latest book Meaning at Work - And Its Hidden Language, author Danny Gutknecht shares strategies that can help organizations inspire employees to feel truly invested in what they're doing.

Do you find yourself following someone else's vision because you're afraid or confused about what to do? Dr. Deena Brown, the Millennial Whisperer, guides others into seeing the true freedom in their lives, and joins us to discuss how we can take control of our personal narratives.

Intuitive, engaging, and transparent -- that's what the team behind GrandPad believes technology should be. GrandPad helps seniors connect with their loved ones so they can be there for every memory. The latest addition to GrandPad features a ride share service! CEO and co-founder Scott Lien joined us to discuss the company's partnership with Lyft.

The California Scottish Rite Foundation is dedicated to supporting and assisting children in California reach their full potential. They do so by providing childhood language services, scholarships, and other charitable programs. Raymond Godeke joins us to discuss the importance of prevention and treatment of childhood language disorders.

It's no surprise that the military adopts and intense and hard-hitting approach to getting things done. According to author Chris Hallberg, distilling the best practices of the military to your business can help you outperform the competition and achieve business success. In his latest book, The Business Sergeant's Field Manual, he highlights how business leaders can modify military appraches to fit their company's needs.

As a real estate investment company, TwinRock Partners focuses on unique opportunities and providing the best in class management services to investors. Since 2006, the company has invested nearly $750 million dollars and continues on their mission. Managing Principal Michael Meyer joined us to discuss more of the company's services and how clients can benefit from them.

The Children's Cerebral Palsy Movement has been helping to improve the quality of lives and futures for children with cerebral palsy since February 2016. For Founder Debbie Fragner, the cause is extremely personal and close to her heart. Debbie joins us to share information about the organizations upcoming event - the 5K Oso Fit Fun Run - which is happening in just a month.

It all started with a need for a solution to a problem. As a professional delivery and installation service, BringPro eliminates the hassle and headache of schedule moving and installation services. President of BringPro Jamie Garelli joins us to discuss how his firm was started.

Matching visions with expectations is what talent booking authority Kirschner Creative Artists helps clients with. The team focuses on a small but strong catalog of talent and uses their cultural significance and cutting edge new talent to brand themselves. Founder Owen Kirschner joins us to discuss his agency in greater detail.

If you own a business, you are a trailblazer -- and it is necessary to ensure that the trail you are blazing gets you to the right destination without derailment. WealthWise Financial Services helps businesses focus on the basics of running a viable business. President Loreen Gilbert joins us to discuss the top 10 mistakes business owners make.

Using real-world economic data on growth over the past century can help identify the economic policies that encourage growth and prosperity within society. Author Robert Genetski joins us to discuss his latest book Rich Nation, Poor Nation, and the direct link between freedom and prosperity.

Rozanne Englehart is a committed entrepreneur who left a successful career in the Los Angeles entertainment industry to pursue her passion for personal wellness by opening her Yoga Sol Studio in Orange County. She joins us to share her “burn the ships” experience and her commitment to a new entrepreneurial life.