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

As founder of OC Growth Advisors , Marla works with business owners and their employees to improve focus and processes for growth and greater profitability. She has run several successful organizations, including one she sold in 2015 for 15 times EBITDA. Marla has served on multiple non-profit boards as well as two for-profit Boards. She is also a chapter chair for WPO, Women Presidents’ Organizat...

Drawing on years of hospitality industry expertise, Ms. Almada excels as the Chief Executive Officer of DKN Hotels . Since joining the organization in 1998, she has held various roles, including Vice President, Regional Director, General Manager, and Assistant General Manager. In this current capacity, she oversees all personnel, ensuring they have what they need to reach their goals. Additionally...

Brandon is the Founder and CEO of AURA, a firm specializing in providing fractional controllers and CFO services to marketing agencies. With over 15 years of professional experience, Brandon helps marketing agencies scale and become more profitable by understanding the value of accurate data around their decision-making process. AURA has had several clients successfully sell with eight figure exit...

Dr. Sophia Nnenna Ononye, PhD MPH MBA is a Yale-trained Cancer Research Scientist, Entrepreneur, Podcaster, Speaker, Certified Corporate Director, Board Advisor, Women's Health/FemTech Strategist, NMQF 40 under 40 Minority Health Leader, and Mentor. Dr. Ononye has over 15 years of cross-functional experience in the biopharmaceutical industry across drug discovery, medical affairs, strategic market...

Chandan Shiroy brings over two decades of experience in manufacturing and engineering to his role as Vice President of Sales and Operations at S&D Industrial Tool Supply . Since joining the company in January 2023, he has spearheaded initiatives in digital transformation, talent development, and market expansion, including the implementation of vending solutions for customers. Chandan's strate...

As President of the C.W. Driver family of companies, Karl is responsible for the overall direction and leadership of three leading construction firms: C.W. Driver, Driver SPG, and Good & Roberts. C.W. Driver was established in 1919 and is the longest-operating contracting firm in Southern California. The firm provides sophisticated preconstruction/estimating and construction services with a fo...

Hernan Ricaurte is the President of Ricaurte Precision Inc. (RPI), an Orange County based contract manufacturer specializing in precision (CNC) machining for the aerospace, space, defense, and medical device industries. RPI works with some of the world’s most advanced and demanding OEMs. Hernan has over 20 years of international experience spanning manufacturing and healthcare including a decade l...

Caecilia Gotama earned her Bachelor and Master's Degrees in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, Fullerton and a Master's in Business Administration from the Graziadio School at Pepperdine University. She is also an LEED-accredited professional due to her passion for sustainable engineering. Caecilia is a licensed Mechanical Engineer who is a Fellow of American Society of Mecha...

Carlo Odicino is the CEO and Founder of One TEAM Partners . He specializes in helping early-stage companies bring their innovations to market without succumbing to the burnout often faced by start-ups. With 24+ years of experience scaling businesses of all sizes, he guides CEOs and leadership teams through complex challenges to achieve extraordinary results. Carlo holds an MBA from the University...

Frank M. Campbell is a financial services veteran with over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. He holds designations as a Chartered Life Underwriter, Licensed Life & Disability Analyst, and Chartered Financial Consultant. Frank's primary focus is ensuring his clients' life insurance policies deliver the necessary protection and financial stability, providing peace of mind to fam...

Jessica Huang is a seasoned restaurant marketing expert with over 10 years of experience in brand strategy, digital marketing, and third-party delivery optimization. She has worked with a diverse range of restaurant concepts, from quick-service and fast-casual brands to full-service and multi-unit operators, helping them develop strong, sustainable marketing strategies that drive growth and custom...

This episode of Critical Mass Business Talk Show is our contribution to #Podcasthon2025 , the world’s largest podcast charity initiative, bringing together podcasters globally to raise awareness for charitable cause. Craig Kausen is the Chairman of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity , a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering creativity through educational programs and community outreach....

Jenny Zhan, CEO, founded and leads all areas of business and operations for Beyond Internationa l. She brings more than 20 years of investment experience focused on institutional investing and managing multi-asset strategies. As a Charted Financial Analyst (CFA), she specializes in international wealth management and has managed investments in real estate assets and global equities markets for lar...

With over 30 years in the industry, Daren Lauda is a highly accomplished and versatile professional with a rich background in the technology and business sectors. Daren began his career as an Infantry Team Leader in the US Army. Leveraging his military experience, he transitioned into the corporate world and made a lasting impact in senior leadership roles at Fortune 500 technology companies like...

Zarina Bahadur is the CEO & Founder of 123 Baby Box , a monthly subscription box for babies. Zarina received a full scholarship to the University of California Irvine for both her bachelors and masters degree. She founded the company while a masters student in business school.  Zarina has won 1st place in five national pitch competitions and has scaled her company to international markets reac...

Gernado G. Abrams is the entrepreneur and independent business owner of Bungi Enterprises , a full-service creative executive professional management and accounting services company. He has been a creative professional for over twenty-five (25+) years, working in the music, entertainment, and broadcasting network industries for decades. From a radio host to creating an independent record label, “B...

Alexander Harmsen, a tech entrepreneur passionate about AI, finance, and autonomy. He founded PortfolioPilot.com , an AI Financial Advisor with over $30 billion in assets on platform. Previously, he founded and sold Iris Automation, worked on NASA’s Mars Helicopter, and went through Y Combinator. He’s raised over $30M in venture capital and was recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30. -- Critical Mass Bu...

Shelley Iocona is the Founder of ON ITS AXIS , a consultancy that helps companies achieve sustainable growth through digital and operational transformation. With over 20 years of experience in product development, operations, and strategic leadership, Shelley blends technical expertise with a deep understanding of organizational dynamics to deliver results-oriented solutions. As a General Partner...

Kristin Epperson is the driving force behind Charity Matterz , an organization dedicated to strengthening the structural foundation and sustainability of nonprofits. Charity Matterz empowers organizations by providing strategic guidance in leadership development, operational optimization, and fostering long-term sustainability. By embedding social equity into every aspect of its work, Charity Matt...

Ashleigh Louis, PhD, and Jeff Soilson, JD, co-founded Quantum ADR to help people stay out of court and avoid legal fees through mediation. As a dual-licensed psychologist and marriage and family therapist alongside a former family law litigator, they weave together their combined five decades of psychology and family law experience to facilitate negotiation, insight, and value-aligned decision-mak...

In his role as COO and Co-Founder at Stratus Financial , Brandon Martini spearheads strategic initiatives and oversees day-to-day operations to drive growth and ensure operational excellence. Together with Stratus FInancial's exceptional team, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's vision and implementing a customer-centric approach. Stratus' mission is to revolutionize the financia...

Naushad Huda is a Senior Principal at Slalom , a global management consulting firm, where he leads customer strategy for Contact Center Transformations. He leads with a passion for research, problem-solving, and actionable insights. His career is marked by an unwavering belief in human potential, a trait that fuels his optimism and commitment to creating meaningful connections. Naushad’s curiosity...

Anoushka Mirchandani is the founder of SIMMER , a financial literacy platform designed to make managing money simple and approachable. With almost two decades of experience in the financial services industry, including leadership roles at Morgan Stanley and BlackRock, Anoushka has a proven track record of driving innovation and building strategic solutions. At SIMMER, Anoushka focuses on offering...

Steve Healis graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with an engineering degree but quickly realized he did not want to be an engineer. Procter & Gamble only hired engineers for their entry-level supervisory positions because engineers would have a better understanding of the technology – BUT they had to find engineers who also had people skills. Steve started as a supervisor in the laundry detergent (...

Mark T. Hebner is the founder and CEO of Index Fund Advisors, Inc., (IFA) , author of the highly regarded book Index Funds: The 12-Step Recovery Program for Active Investors, focused on investor education. Mark’s current book and previous editions received praise from financial industry experts and academic luminaries, including John Bogle, David Booth, Burton Malkiel, and Nobel Laureates Harry Ma...