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

Tom Wood is a seasoned entrepreneur and industry expert with a passion for helping business maximize profits and increase their bottom line. As the CEO of Silent Streams, he has successfully saved companies millions of dollars and increased employees' benefits at the same time. With a keen eye for innovation and a commitment to excellence, Tom is dedicated to changing the way business owners approach cost containment and risk mitigation. Silent Streams is an industry leader and completely revolutionizes the way businesses operate by providing innovative solutions in cost containment and value-added services. Our cutting-edge technology and expert team help businesses dramatically increase bottom line profits and create healthier and more profitable work environments for their employees. Whether you're a small business owner or a large corporation, we can help you achieve your goals and drive growth without risk or financial investment. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Known as The Transformational Book Coach for “cause publishing,” Susie Schaefer believes that books are the gateway to creating a movement. Whether writing a book helps an author heal past trauma or raise awareness for social change, Susie empowers storytellers to be part of the global conversation and create a ripple effect for humanity, particularly when an author shares their own story in connection to their mission, message, and community. Susie's bestselling books include A Path to Purpose: Seven Inspired Stories to Discover Your True North, The Pivot Project: Stories to Inspire the Shift in Your Life, Your First Book: The Publishing Guide for New Authors, and The Escape: How to Leave Your Abusive Relationship Safely (International Impact Book Award). -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Shannon Chapman graduated from Mission Viejo High School in 2000, making her way to SDSU days before her 18th birthday. She wanted to be a teacher, so she majored in English & had her BA by 2004. She was 21 when she graduated college & set out to become a teacher abroad. Instead, she welcomed a baby boy at age 23 with half of her credential completed & a job as a substitute teacher. This was not exactly how she had imagined her pathway into teaching, but she knew she would somehow, someway, accomplish her goals. Fast forward a few years & she was living in Orange County again, working as an executive assistant for Pepsico. She was learning the beverage industry, but she was also learning how to run a business. A year or so later, she moved on to Pepsi Bottling Group, learning sales, marketing & anything she could about small-format business. She became the number one sales rep in CA, breaking records and exceeding quotas. From there she took over a dive bar for a friend who wanted out of the bar business. She took everything she knew and translated that into an extended “beverage” career as a bar owner, quadrupling sales within two months. She started baking cookies to sell in the bar & turned her side hobby into a multimillion-dollar manufacturing & distribution company for 15 years. Then, she was ready to transition. She moved back to Mission Viejo to be closer to her parents when her father was diagnosed with Leukemia & Lymphoma. Now a single mother with three boys & a new house, Shannon had a desire to try something new. The goal was to start a business where she could still coach little league, make good money & prioritize her boys. Construction was a perfect fit & fell in her lap when she began construction in her backyard. She’s always loved construction & comes from a big family of men & women who are very handy & construction-oriented. Shannon was working from home, so she became a student of the construction process from beginning to end. She made friends with the General Contractor, took over the construction of her house, then asked him for a job as a project manager of his construction company. She proved she could do the job by bidding a handful of jobs, landing those jobs, then completing the work as a project manager—all while starting a new company in the self-storage world. Self-storage allowed her to do the construction she enjoyed, work the hours she wanted (mostly from home) & build generational wealth for her boys. She learned everything she could, built her team & took on a $17M ground-up development in AZ as her first project. Shannon is now a developer, doing her own projects as well as a vendor of services for other development companies. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Jenn Quader is President & CEO of The Smart Agency, a 30-year-old company she acquired in 2018 that is now the leading professional communications firm for commercial real estate and financial services companies in the United States. Her personal mission is to empower the next generation of confident communicators by sharing her voice in the global movement toward empathetic and human-first business leadership. Jenn honed her skills working on behalf of major companies such as Fox/MGM Entertainment, Ford Motor Company, Michelin, and Mazda before specializing in commercial real estate. Today, in addition to leading her company, she is a poet, author, and now a recording artist with her debut vocal jazz album called “Love, In All Its Forms.” -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

John Cervenka is the CEO and a co-founder of Starfish Social Media Inc. Starfish is a fast growing global social media platform that enables users to promote their good, connect with others that share common interests, and easily connect with the causes they about. Prior to launching Starfish, John was an Institutional Advisor with Morgan Stanley. Before joining Morgan Stanley, John was a producer and writer with FOX Studios, Sony Television, Spike TV and Game Show Network. John attended the University of Southern California and the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He and his wife, Kerry, live in Southern California and have 4 children. Steven Mott, COO and co-founder of Starfish Social Media Inc., is an experienced business professional with a focus on Real Estate Construction and Management. He has worked with Williams-Sonoma and Dole Foods, among other top-tier companies. Founding Starfish Social Media is the result of Steven’s desire to create a legacy and make a difference with his time and treasures. Steven believes in the power of giving back through supporting the American Himalayan Foundation, his alma mater UC Berkeley and other nonprofits with needs both big and small. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Ian Tonks is an expert EOS Implementer at EOS Worldwide. Through the Entrepreneurial Operating System™, Ian Tonks combines timeless business principles with a set of simple, practical, real-world tools to help entrepreneurs get what they want from their businesses, enabling them to crystalize their vision, instill discipline and accountability throughout the organization, and build healthy, functional and collaborative work teams. His journey to EOS began in the late 1990s, when he spent seven years running a 650-employee company that provided youth sports programming to a variety of professional sports organizations, including Major League Soccer, the NFL and Jack Nickalus’ Golden Bear International. After getting married in 2006, he traded the grind of 100,000+ flight miles a year for the short commute to a private Bay Area University, where he led several capital fundraising campaigns and saw the institution through its transition to NCAA division 2. In 2009, he launched a business development practice to pursue his true passion and purpose: helping business leaders plan more strategically, grow more reliably, and maximize the talent in their companies. His EOS light bulb moment occurred in early 2015, when a friend and mentor recommended he read the book “Traction,” by Gino Wickman. He instantly connected with the simplicity and practicality of its transformative message and seized the opportunity to create his own EOS practice. Today, he’s an expert EOS Implementer with 750-plus sessions of real-world experience across an array of industries. Fusing three decades of executive and entrepreneurial experience, he customizes EOS’s proven system to each client’s unique situation and needs. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Sebastian Zelger, born in 1988 in Germany, is the CEO of Liqui Moly USA. His early experiences with low-paying and physically exhausting vacation jobs during high school fueled his determination to pursue higher education and a successful career. While studying, Zelger gained hands-on experience at prominent companies like Porsche AG in Stuttgart and Carl Zeiss in Aalen. In 2014, Sebastian joined Liqui Moly as a junior export sales manager, where he underwent two years of intensive training. His hard work and dedication paid off when he was appointed CEO of Liqui Moly USA. At the start of his leadership, the company had just 10 employees and annual sales of $10 million. Over the span of eight years, Zelger successfully grew the business, expanding the team to over 70 professionals and increasing sales to more than $100 million annually. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Scott Cannon is the CEO of OC-based BigRentz, a leading procurement software company that solves long-standing challenges in construction by streamlining equipment procurement and improving logistics. The platform connects contractors to over 14,000 rental yards and 6,000 rental companies across the U.S., reducing inefficiencies in a traditionally fragmented industry. With BigRentz’s expansive network, 90% of job sites nationwide are reachable within 30 minutes, helping contractors optimize operations, cut transportation costs, and enhance project efficiency. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Curtis McCullom is a Human Potential Coach, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, speaker, and trainer with over 35 years of experience in self-improvement and personal development. As the CEO of the Curtis McCullom Group LLC, Bespoke Human Potential Coaching, Curtis helps individuals and entrepreneurs break through mindset blocks, increase income, and find fulfillment through his L.G.E.T. Mindset™ (Learning, Growing, Expanding, and Transforming) framework. Certified in hypnotherapy, Master Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Master Mental Emotional Release ® (MER), and Executive Coach, Curtis integrates these modalities into his coaching programs to help clients achieve profound transformations in life and business. Passionate about empowering others to become the best version of themselves, Curtis is dedicated to teaching the principles of personal growth, transformation, and alignment with core values. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

For more than 25 years, Bill Wilhelm has played a pivotal role in helping shape R.D. Olson Construction to become one of the nation’s leading general contractors, commemorating 40 years in business this year. Under Wilhelm’s leadership, R.D. Olson Construction has earned an award-winning reputation across the Western U.S. and Hawaii for projects spanning hospitality, multi-unit, adaptive reuse, education and senior living. The firm has been repeatedly recognized by Engineering News-Record as a Top 400 Construction Company Nationwide and Top 40 General Contractor in California. Wilhelm has spearheaded some of R.D. Olson Construction’s most iconic projects and continues to cultivate the company’s nationwide reputation as a trusted, relationship-focused builder. Notable projects completed under his leadership include Lido House, Los Angeles’ NoMad Hotel, Irvine Spectrum Marriott, Paséa Hotel and Spa, Chapman University’s Reeves Hall and Atria Senior Living, among many others. Wilhelm’s hands-on leadership approach and forward-thinking industry expertise has made him a highly sought-after speaker for events such as The Lodging Conference and Bisnow. He also frequently contributes his insights to Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, GlobeSt, Construction Today, Hotel Business Magazine and other prominent business and commercial real estate publications. In addition to leading R.D. Olson Construction, Wilhelm has dedicated his career to giving back to the local community by volunteering, fundraising and building homes alongside his employees for Habitat for Humanity, Olive Crest, HomeAid, Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and OC United. His team-oriented leadership and civic-minded approach has helped garner the company numerous awards and recognitions, including “The Olive Crest Leadership Award,” Orange County Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” and OneOC’s “Civic 50” – a coveted list of the top 50 philanthropic companies in Orange County. In 2019, Wilhelm was recognized by Boy Scouts of America, Orange County Council, as a Men of Character Honoree. Wilhelm graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. He later went on to study at the University of Southern California, where he completed the university’s Management Development Program followed by Harvard University’s Executive Finance Program. He continues to strengthen the core of the company and attributes his leadership success to his ability to bring out the best in his associates, employees and project partners through a collaborative, team-oriented work environment. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Paul Brinkman has spent 15 years in management consulting, bringing expertise in Process Improvement, Cost Reduction, and Value Creation for his transportation consulting customers. Paul recently purchased Trans-Solutions, a business focused on strategic planning and execution for clients' Supply Chain needs, creating efficiency in modality and transportation, as well as leading carrier sourcing negotiations and operational optimization initiatives. In addition to his expertise in Supply Chain, Paul has also assisted customers with their Print, Mail & Packaging needs. This includes corrugated, non-corrugated and bottling solutions. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration from University of Southern California with an emphasis in Financial Analysis & Valuation. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Richard Cabrera is an Executive Vice President at Umpqua Bank and the Head of Commercial Banking for Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. He has been with Umpqua since 2016 and leads the bank’s asset-based lending division, debt capital markets, and corporate banking operations. Under his leadership, the bank has expanded and growth the Commercial Banking division. Prior to his time at Umpqua, Cabrera worked for California Bank and Bank of America in a variety of leadership roles. A fourth-generation Californian with a lifelong affinity for numbers, Cabrera is dedicated to serving the vibrant business communities within California and Umpqua’s broader footprint. He is a graduate of San Diego State University. Cabrera and his wife, Karen, reside in Southern California. They have three adult children and two grandchildren. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Julie Keyes is a Business Consultant and Certified Exit Planner based in Central Minnesota. Her company, KeyeStrategies has worked with business owners of private companies since 2012. Julie’s been an entrepreneur herself for many years and has won numerous national awards for her work in exit planning. She a member of the Exit Planning Institute’s Leadership Council and faculty, as well as a contributor to its online Academy. She instructs business owners and advisors from across the country on topics related to exit planning and business transition readiness. Julie's speaking and teaching engagements for various professional organizations include but are not limited to: Exit Planning Institute, Independent Electrical Contractors Association, MN State Bar Association, MN Society of CPAs, NAIFA, Women in Insurance and Financial Services, Edward Jones, Financial Planners Association, National Association of Women Business Owners, RBC, Merrill, Independent Business Brokers Association, Lincoln Financial Services, Midwest Business Brokers and Intermediaries, LeClair Group, Principal Financial Group and Frost Bank. Julie’s also an author and podcaster. You can find the 2 nd Edition of her book “Poised for Exit” on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and her podcast of the same name on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, and Google Podcasts. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Brett Buettner is the President of Buettner Insurance Agency, a full-spectrum employee benefits firm located in Orange County, California. Brett helps companies grow, maintain top talent, and reach their goals by providing boutique employee benefit solutions to his clients alongside HR technologies and compliance tools. He is a 3rd Generation broker, has been on the Board of OCAHU (now called CAHIP-Orange County), and is a select broker to be a part of carrier roundtables to participate in discussions centered around the insurance market, what clients want and need from the insurance carriers, and the future of healthcare. Buettner Insurance Agency, Inc. has been serving clients since 1992, and has achieved multiple excellence statuses with insurance carriers. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

David Bagga is the CEO of the David Bagga Company, founded in 2013. Since its inception, David has successfully placed over 600 candidates in medical device sales jobs and is ranked in the top 1% of sales recruiters across the U.S. on LinkedIn. David is the author of "A Millennial's Guide to Breaking into Medical Device Sales" and holds the title of the most recommended medical device sales recruiter on LinkedIn, with over 270 recommendations year-to-date. In addition to his recruitment work, he provides a 1:1 coaching program for candidates seeking to enter the medical device sales field and is currently developing a course, scheduled for release in 2025. Before his career in recruitment, Bagga played college basketball at the University of Arizona from 2005 to 2009. He went on to play professionally in the British Basketball League in England during the 2009-2010 season as part of FIBA. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Ajay Prasad, Founder and CEO of RepuGen (founded in 2016), is a healthcare marketing leader passionate about aligning online reviews with patient satisfaction. He recognized a critical gap – most healthcare providers' online reviews don't reflect their high internal satisfaction ratings. This disconnect hurts businesses, as over 80% of patients rely on online reviews when choosing a doctor. Ajay established RepuGen to bridge this gap, empowering healthcare providers to showcase their excellence and attract patients seeking top-notch care. Previously, Ajay founded GMR Web Team (2004), a thriving digital marketing agency for healthcare providers. Ajay believes patient satisfaction, stellar reviews, and a strong web presence are the cornerstones of a successful healthcare business. This philosophy guides his work at RepuGen, ensuring clients not only shine online but also prioritize patient experience. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Shane Silsby has 25 years of experience influencing strategic planning, public policy, organizational development, and the delivery of major infrastructure projects. His expansive career includes executive leadership roles in the private sector and with government agencies across the country, including his last public sector post as the Director of Orange County Public Works. As the current CEO of Silsby Strategic Advisors, he is now focused on helping public agencies develop creative solutions to complex challenges, including strategies around federal funding acquisition and implementation. Mr. Silsby holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from Michigan State University, is a current member of the American Public Works Association national government affairs committee and has recently authored and published the book “Managing for Meteors: Preparing Local Government Leaders Before the Impact.” -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Angie Rowe serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Beyond Blindness. Through their mission-focused programs, Beyond Blindness empowers children with visual impairments and other disabilities to achieve their fullest potential. Beyond Blindness envisions a world where all children, no matter their abilities are equipped to live full and rewarding lives. Angie is committed to the integrative and comprehensive Journey of Care provided by Beyond Blindness, giving families the security of knowing they will be with them throughout their child’s lifetime in whatever way they need or want them to be. Previously, Angie served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Global Genes, a rare disease patient advocacy organization. Angie believes in the power of collaboration and serves on the boards of several agencies in Orange County. She currently serves as treasurer and is a founding board member of CAABVI (California Agencies for the Blind and Visually Impaired), the Orange County regional representative and Treasurer of the board for CAPSES (California Private Special Education Schools), (OCDC) Orange County Disability Coalition, and is a member of OneOC's Non-Profit Advisory Board. She is also a graduate of the highly selective Octane OC Non-Profit Accelerator program. She is a past President of the Junior League of Orange County and through that found both her passion for nonprofit work and training and mentoring young women. She still actively volunteers as Chapter Advisor for Alpha Chi Omega’s Delta Psi Chapter at UC Santa Barbara as well as formally mentors Experian executives as part of Octane’s Women Leaders programming. Angie has a Master of Science in Public Policy and a Certificate in Industrial Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resource Management from Penn State University. She has two grown sons, Colin and Brady, who reside together and are young professionals in Phoenix. She, her husband Bob, and rescue dog, Urbi are 25-year residents of Aliso Viejo, CA. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Mike Myers, is CEO, Southern Pacific at McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. A long-time McCarthy partner, Mike Myers became the Chief Executive Officer for the Southern Pacific region in 2024. In his role, he leads approximately 1,500 partners across four locations in Southern California and Nevada. His responsibilities include overseeing all operational functions that support sustainable growth and a comprehensive, client-focused approach to business. Under his leadership, the region has grown significantly, increasing service lines through enhanced preconstruction and construction services. Mike is known for driving a culture of ownership through his leadership, encouraging innovative thinking and ideas. An industry veteran, Mike has more than two decades of construction experience and a passion for giving back to the industry and community. Mike serves as a member of McCarthy Holdings’ executive committee and board. He also provides leadership to the Southern California’s Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and the Orange County American Heart Association Board. In addition, Mike sits on the CHOC Foundation Cabinet and is a long-time supporter of the American Heart Association, JSerra Catholic High School, ACE Mentor Program, and Flags of Valor organizations. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.

Bonni Pomush is the Chief Executive Officer of Working Wardrobes. With much joy, Bonni is committed to putting her strengths to work by being of service to the community. Bonni developed a great love and respect for research and data-based decision-making while earning her master’s degree in Family Resources and Human Development. Bonni brings over 25 years of leadership experience in government and non-profit agencies. Her research- and strengths-based leadership approach has resulted in the national accreditation of centers, turning around budgets from shortfalls to surpluses, and retaining high-quality employees by creating and implementing performance-based pay systems. In partnership with board members and volunteers, Bonni has secured over $6 million in capital campaign funds and $1 million from events and annual giving. Originally from the East Valley suburbs of Phoenix, AZ, Bonni administered programs for 15 years in government agencies (the Kyrene School District, Arizona State University, and the City of Chandler). After making the move to Orange County, CA in 2009, she joined the nonprofit world at Temple Beth El of South Orange County: The Samueli Center for Progressive Judaism. Following Founder and 31-year CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Jerri Rosen’s retirement, Bonni became Working Wardrobes’ second-ever CEO in January 2022 and has focused her leadership on modernizing and preparing Working Wardrobes to scale. Since her arrival, she has been nominated for several awards (LA Times 2023 & 2024 Orange County Inspirational Women, OC Business Journal’s Women in Business 2023) and was touted by the OC Register as one of Orange County’s Most Influential People in 2023. Bonni revels in creating and implementing strategic plans and sustainable systems, working with boards to accomplish a mission, developing and leading high-performing teams, engaging diverse stakeholders, and producing measurable results. When she’s not hard at work, Bonni can be found paddle-boarding, walking, playing mah-jongg, hitting balls on the tennis court, traveling, or enjoying quality time with family and friends. -- 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 REF Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com.